Climate Aspects of Water Supply Planning

by Derek Winstanley, (Chief, Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Champaign, IL 61820 E-mail: dwinstan@uiuc.edu) and D. Phil, (No affiliation information available.)

pp. 1-12, (doi:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/40792(173)465)

     Access full text
     Purchase Subscription
     Permissions for Reuse

Document type:	Conference Proceeding Paper
Part of:	Impacts of Global Climate Change
Abstract:	Illinois withdraws about 19 billion gallons of water per day from Lake Michigan, reservoirs, rivers, lakes, and aquifers. As population grows, the economy expands, recognition of the needs of aquatic ecosystems increases, and water supply systems age, there is a need to look to the future to determine possible changes in water availability and water demand. Foresight and planning provide a sound basis for water supply management that includes consideration of constructing new reservoirs, expanding existing and constructing new water supply systems, water allocations, increasing withdrawals from surface waters and groundwater, and water conservation and reuse. Using the water cycle as a framework, a reference water budget for Illinois was produced for the period 1971–2000. Examples are provided of how variations and possible changes in precipitation and temperature may change the water budget in Illinois in the future. The historical climate records for the past 150 years and output from climate models provide the means to examine possible future climate conditions and their impacts on surface water and groundwater availability. Special focus is given to characterizing drought conditions and drought frequencies. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources plays a lead role in water supply planning and management, and this role is explained.