1.3: Public and Self-Supplied Water

Ensure an adequate and reliable supply of suitable quality water to satisfy public water supply and self-supplied domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and power generation water needs.

Other Information:

Projecting demand for water for various human purposes includes identifying how much, when, and where water will be needed. Before we can ensure adequate water resources for human purposes into the future, we need to generate projections of population and sector water demand. These projections can then be compared to the water determined (through the water budget and available ground water assessments) to be available for allocation — that is, available for use without impairing the ability of the water resource base to support healthy ecosystems. This will require developing a methodology and range of assumptions to which the Basin partners are agreeable. Figure 6 shows regional population change in the Basin between 1990 and 2000. Projecting water needs for all use sectors, must consider estimates of consumptive use, water distribution system losses and the potential effects of various water conservation programs. Projections must also take into account possible alternative future conditions. This requires making a range of projections, reflecting a variety of possible scenarios. Figure 7 illustrates how differing future water demand scenarios require different levels of water supply development. This Plan requires that a study of future water demands be undertaken to enable us to plan the necessary supplies for the next 30 years. While we can focus on what the most likely (forecast) outcome will be, we can also examine the cost and benefits of alternative (high and low) water demand scenarios and the implications for resource development. This approach also provides a method for testing the sensitivity of water use projections. Ensuring adequate supplies for future populations. This entails understanding and managing how and where growth will occur in order to fulfill expected demand and have the least detrimental impact on natural systems. If water stressed areas are identified for growth, then solutions to water supply problems need to be determined and planned. Lessons learned and legal constraints established in connection with previous decisions on water transfers should be incorporated into water resources decision-making in the future to meet state, regional and local plans for growth management as well as ecological needs. The map in Figure 8 shows existing population density in the Basin regions as of 2000, and areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey where special withdrawal restrictions are in effect based on concerns for ground water levels.

Objective(s):

1.3.A: Normal Supplies

1.3.B: Supplies in Drought Conditions

1.3.C: Water Use Efficiency

1.3.D: Reuse and Recycling

1.3.E: Water Quality Maintenance and Improvement

1.3.F: Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Means

1.3.G: Public and Industrial Water Quality

1.3.H: Flow and Transport Models and Tools

1.3.I: Contingency Plans

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