2006 Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards
Bloomington, October 25, 2006
WATER SUPPLY PLANNING
IN ILLINOIS
Derek Winstanley
Chief
Illinois State Water Survey
CONTENTS
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Introduction
Current planning and management of
water supplies
Executive Order 2006-01
Benefits of water supply planning
Questions
INTRODUCTION
Fresh Water Use in Illinois
2000 and 2025 (mgd)
2000
Public Supply
2025
1,678
2,205
Self-Supplied Industries
493
547
Livestock and Irrigation
38
42
Thermoelectric
13,272
16,889
TOTAL
15,793
20,197
Source:SIU
THE WATER CYCLE:
CLIMATE, SURFACE WATER, and
GROUNDWATER ARE ALL LINKED
40
39
Lake
Mic higan
16
15
s
10-Year Running Averages
Watershed precipitation
Illinois River streamflow at Meredosia/Valley City
(minus Lake Michigan diversion)
Groundwater elevation at Snicarte
Snicarte
Meredosia
Valley City
38
14
37
13
36
12
35
11
449.0
34
10
448.5
33
9
INDIANA
ILLINOIS
448.0
32
8
31
7
30
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
6
2000
447.5
447.0
10-year running averages of Illinois River watershed precipitation,
streamflow (minus Lake Michigan diversion), and groundwater elevation.
BENEFITS
Withdrawing water has benefits in supporting population
growth and economic development
COSTS
Withdrawing water from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and
aquifers has costs.
QUESTIONS
What costs are we willing to accept in return for what
benefits?
How should we manage available water supplies?
How should we deal with uncertainties and risks?
KEY QUESTIONS:

How much water can be withdrawn safely from
the aquifers and rivers and where?

How much growth can be sustained?

What will be the impacts of additional
withdrawals on i) existing wells, ii) rivers and
streams, and iii) the aquifers themselves?

How resistant to drought and possible climate
change are water supplies?
IllinoisWater Resources
•
Surface Water Intakes
(public water supply)
•
Sand/gravel aquifers
•
Bedrock aquifers
EAST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS
Peoria
0
4
NORTH
8
12
16
Watseka
WOODFORD
CO
Morton
20
FORD
CO
Normal
MILES
Pekin
IROQUOIS CO
Hoopeston
Bloomington`
Paxton
TAZEWELL CO
CHAMPAIGN CO
MCLEAN CO
Havana
MASON CO
LOGAN CO
Rantoul
DEWITT CO
Danville
Champaign
MENARD CO
Lincoln
Clinton
Urbana
PIATT CO
CASS CO
Petersburg
MACON CO
Monticello
Decatur
Springfield
VERMILION CO
CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF
WATER WITHDRAWALS
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Private ownership of land, but not of water.
Need a permit to construct a pumping facility, but not to
pump water.
DNR/OWR may place restrictions on surface water
permits in order to protect public waters.
No limits to other withdrawals as long as they are for
reasonable and beneficial use – Riparian Doctrine.
Courts settle conflicts.
17 Water Authorities (13 in east-central Illinois).
Currently a fragmented water supply planning process
- little comprehensive, regional water supply planning.
First come, first served.
No mandatory reporting of water withdrawals.
GROUNDWATER WITHDRAWALS
IN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY (mgd)
100
80
?
60
40
20
0
2000
2025
2050
WE NEED TO STUDY LONG-TERM
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF
WITHDRAWALS

Each additional withdrawal by itself may not
have adverse impacts.
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS WITH
+10 MGD THRESHOLD
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
+2 mgd

+4 mgd

+6 mgd
TOTAL +12 mgd
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES TO CONSIDER

LOCATION

PRIORITIES

ALLOCATION OF LIMITED ASSETS
“WATER FOR ILLINOIS:
A PLAN FOR ACTION”
Executive Order 2006-01
for the Development of
State and Regional Water-Supply Plans


Issued by Governor on January 9, 2006
Calls for:



Development of a scientific basis &
administrative framework;
Locally-based regional water supply planning
committees;
3-year pilots, within existing laws, regulations,
and property rights.
PRIORITY
AQUIFERS and
WATERSHEDS
for WATER
SUPPLY
PLANNING
REGIONAL WATER SUPPLIES:
PLANNING AND PLANS

Determine water availability using existing data,
new data (climate change; geologic maps; water
levels; hydraulic properties) and develop analytical
tools (models).
Develop scenarios of water demand to 2050.
Evaluate management options, including water
conservation and reuse.
Better able to answer questions posed.
Update state drought plan.

Cumulatively they can have adverse impacts

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Smith Family
C-U Savings & Loan
$80k
Hospital/Insurance
Coverage
Jones Family
C-U Savings & Loan
$80k
DO NOT ENTER
BENEFITS OF REGIONAL
WATER SUPPLY PLANNING

Achieve goals:
“Provide adequate and reliable supplies of
clean water at reasonable cost.”


Reduce conflicts
Provide basis for sustainable development
ILLINOIS STATE WATER SURVEY
http://www.sws.uiuc.edu
dwinstan@uiuc.edu
217-244 5459