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2005 Progress Report: Multi-Objective Decision Model for Urban Water Use: Planning for a Regional Water Reuse Ordinance

EPA Grant Number: X3832204
Title: Multi-Objective Decision Model for Urban Water Use: Planning for a Regional Water Reuse Ordinance
Investigators: Anderson, Paul R. , Elam, Jesse , VanderVelde, George
Institution: Illinois Institute of Technology , Illinois Waste Management and Research Center , Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission
EPA Project Officer: Bauer, Diana
Project Period: May 1, 2005 through December 31, 2008
Project Period Covered by this Report: May 1, 2005 through December 31, 2006
Project Amount: $255,000
RFA: Collaborative Science & Technology Network for Sustainability (2004)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Description:

Objective:

We are working toward a long-term water resource management plan that includes reuse of treated wastewater. The specific objectives of this research project are to: (1) understand the water diversion/use in the Greater Chicago area; (2) identify causes of future water shortage problem; (3) differentiate water use practices by drinking water/nondrinking water quality; and (4) 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 (Lake Michigan, water purification plants), the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC; responsible for water reclamation), the local government, and nongovernmental organizations. Our goal 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 achieve the goal, this multiobjective 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:

Activities during Year 1 focused on model formulation. We: (1) assessed water supply and demand in northeast Illinois; (2) estimated the potential water shortage in northeast Illinois in 2030; (3) developed cost information related to reuse for water/wastewater treatment, conveyance, supply, disinfection, and operation and maintenance of facilities; (4) identified objective(s) and constraints for optimization models and assessed advantages and disadvantages of linear and nonlinear models; (5) developed GIS data for relevant industries, water/wastewater treatment plants, golf courses, and parks in the region; and (6) defined and developed hydrologic footprints for major industries in the Chicago area.

These activities are consistent and on schedule with activities described for Year 1 in the proposal. The proposal also specified two meetings with the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) during the first year of the project. One meeting took place in February 2006; a second meeting is planned for July 2006. TAP members are from government, industry, water and wastewater utilities, and planning and consulting firms. Agreeing with the general direction of the research, TAP members noted that planning and implementing treated wastewater reuse will help to protect Lake Michigan and local groundwater resources. They commented that relative to industrial applications, treated wastewater reuse in irrigation might be easier to implement, and that ultraviolet (UV) disinfection should be considered before reuse applications (because of concerns about cost and toxicity associated with chlorination). Finally, the TAP noted that Cook County and the City of Chicago may not be the best test case for our optimization model. For example, the MWRDGC has an unusual financial structure that could be a disincentive to greater wastewater reuse applications. In addition, the present cost of municipal water in Chicago is among the lowest in the country, so there is little economic incentive to encourage wastewater reuse.

As a result, TAP members urged us to consider developing water reuse scenarios for the fast growing suburbs west of Chicago. There are current water shortages in the suburbs and the financial structure of the water and wastewater utilities is such that they could benefit from wastewater reuse.

The aims of the project have not changed from the original proposal, but in response to TAP suggestions, we have been in discussion with the Fox Metro Water Reclamation District, which serves the City of Aurora. Approximately 40 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois. They are interested in exploring treated wastewater reuse, and we hope to work with them to develop an optimization model for their region. This model would complement (not replace) the model we are developing for the City of Chicago.

Our progress thus far on the model for the City of Chicago is as follows. We assessed current water use in the Chicago area, as well as future water demand and the availability of public water supplies for a planning period from 2005 to 2030. We estimated the gap between the public water supply and the demand for 2030 based on water use pattern and regional water demand projections. We also documented the quantity and quality of treated wastewater from the MWRDGC treatment facilities to understand potential applications and treatment needs for this alternative resource. Spatial relationships between potential water supplier (MWRDGC treatment facilities) and potential users (industries, golf courses, and parks) were generated using GIS. Costs associated with treated wastewater reuse (disinfection and conveyance) were estimated to eliminate unrealistic reuse scenarios; selected potential users will be included in the new water use system. Finally, we began exploring an assessment of water reuse options for the Fox Valley Water Reclamation District in Aurora, Illinois.

Future Activities:

Major activities for the next year include continuing to develop the model, applying the model to review various wastewater reuse scenarios, reviewing the model output with the TAP, and iterating as needed. We also expect to begin more active outreach to local industry to assess their perspective on treated wastewater reuse. Although these efforts will be focused in Chicago, there will be a parallel effort near the City of Aurora.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 16 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

treated wastewater, reuse, GIS, health risk assessment, economic analysis, optimization, decision making, drinking water, sustainable development, Great Lakes, urban and regional planning, Chicago, conservation, , ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, RFA, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, decision-making, Economics & Decision Making, Urban and Regional Planning, Resources Management, compliance costs, urban planning, decision support tool, sustainable development, decision making, enforcement, water evaluation and urban planning tool, ecological design, conservation, Chicago, water reuse ordinance, wastewater, sustainable urban environment, barriers, sustainable water use, environmental decision making, water conservation, environmental law

Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract
2006 Progress Report
2007 Progress Report

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The 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.

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