Grantee Research Project Results
2007 Progress Report: Multi-Objective Decision Model for Urban Water Use: Planning for a Regional Water Reuse Ordinance
EPA Grant Number: X3832204Title: Multi-Objective Decision Model for Urban Water Use: Planning for a Regional Water Reuse Ordinance
Investigators: Anderson, Paul R. , Elam, Jesse A. , VanderVelde, George
Current Investigators: Anderson, Paul R. , Elam, Jesse A. , Miller, Gary
Institution: Illinois Institute of Technology , Illinois Waste Management and Research Center , Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission
Current Institution: Illinois Institute of Technology , Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning , Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: May 1, 2005 through December 31, 2008
Project Period Covered by this Report: May 1, 2007 through December 31, 2008
Project Amount: $255,000
RFA: Collaborative Science & Technology Network for Sustainability (2004) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development , Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Objective:
We are working toward a long-term water resource management plan that includes reuse of treated wastewater. In this project we will work to:
- Understand the water diversion/use in the Greater Chicago area,
- Identify causes of future water shortage problem,
- Differentiate water use practices by drinking water/non-drinking water quality, and
- Outline an optimum water reuse system that includes wastewater reuse.
The water resource management strategies will consider the interests of local water users and the interests of water suppliers, the MWRDGC (responsible for water reclamation), the local government, and NGOs. Our objective is to build a decision support system that balances interests of stakeholders, to maximize the social, environmental, and economic welfare of the local society. To meet the objective, this multi-objective decision model must be able to identify water reuse opportunities, prioritize these water reuse opportunities by cost factor, and optimize the allocation of urban water resources
Progress Summary:
Based on current water use patterns and future water supply and demand projections for NE Illinois, it is likely there will be a future water shortage in the Chicago area, especially in counties west of the City of Chicago. Reuse of treated wastewater can help address future water shortages, but a variety of issues will influence potential reuse. These issues include regulatory, policy, perception, and economic concerns.
Studies of wastewater reuse potential near Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago facilities demonstrate that wastewater reuse can be economical. The location of potential users relative to the source of treated wastewater and the amount of water the potential users will need determine supply costs. Water reuse supply costs are primarily a function of flow rate and pipeline length. These relationships are specific to each location.
Wastewater reuse scenarios in urban and suburban settings are different. Urban settings feature industrial clusters, relatively shorter pipeline distances, and high costs associated with installing a secondary distribution system in an urban setting. Suburban settings feature longer distances, few industrial clusters, and greater potential for irrigation of open spaces.
Perhaps the greatest barrier to reuse is associated with changing current practice and the potential for increased human exposure to water-borne pathogens.
Future Activities:
In the six months remaining for this project we will conduct two wastewater reuse workshops and complete the project final report.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 28 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Treated wastewater, reuse, GIS, health risk assessment, economic analysis, optimization, decision making,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Sustainable Industry/Business, Sustainable Environment, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Resources Management, Technology for Sustainable Environment, decision-making, Urban and Regional Planning, Economics & Decision Making, sustainable development, sustainable water use, water evaluation and urban planning tool, urban planning, wastewater, decision making, ecological design, barriers, environmental decision making, Urban water management, conservation, enforcement, water reuse ordinance, sustainable urban environment, environmental law, water conservation, Chicago, compliance costs, pollution preventionProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.