Today we focus on the issue of water supply. Perhaps more than any other environmental resource water may be an ultimate limiting factor for human populations. We already see this in policies designed to curtail water consumption in this country in response to the draw down of aquifers as well as in the water wars that have broken out in the American West. One of our articles takes a look at the supply of groundwater in the U.S.  The second asks about the importance of water quality.  Northwest Indiana, unlike many places, is blessed with a plentiful supply of freshwater in the form of Lake Michigan and plentiful groundwater. Yet, even these resources are limited. The articles from The Times then focus in on debates on whether towns and cities outside the watershed of Lake Michigan should have access to Lake Michigan water. In order to use the water without disrupting the hydrologic cycle, the water that we use ultimately must make its way back into Lake Michigan or into the aquifers from which we draw it. On the other hand, our region is growing fast, and for growth to continue we need access to water. Can we have it both ways?

The question of water supply is ultimately a complicated one involving questions of science, economics, politics, history, and geography. To what degree have we altered the water supply system beyond repair? How might we go about finding scientific, economic, and political solutions for a more sustainable water future? In class discussion today we will consider the issue of water supply through an examination the cases described in your readings and by addressing the following questions:

 

Scenario 1: You are a group of environmental planners in Kansas.  You have discovered that you will run out of groundwater for both urban use and agricultural use in approximately 50 years if something is not done to stop the depletion of groundwater.  What strategies will you use to manage the groundwater resource and prevent the depletion while sustaining at least current levels urban development and maintaining at least part of the economy in agriculture.

Scenario 2:  The quality of your water supply is becoming degraded due to the degradation and elimination of wetlands and point source and non-point source pollution.  What solutions will you offer to reverse the decline in quality.  Which solutions are likely to be the most cost effective?

1. How does the hydrologic cycle work and how does human water use disrupt the cycle?
2. What is the state of the groundwater supply in the U.S.?  Is our use of groundwater sustainable?
3. Why does the scale at which groundwater management decisions are made matter?
4. Why do groundwater and surface water need to be managed in tandem?
5. What are the major groundwater management strategies available?
6. What is the value of clean water?
7. How is the need for clean water connected to broader environmental conservation efforts?
8. What are watersheds and how might they be connected to sustainable use of water resources?
9. Why is it important to plan for the future use of Lake Michigan water?
10. Should use of Great Lakes water be limited to those inside its watershed basin?
11. What are the implications for urban and suburban development of limiting Lake Michigan water use to areas within the watershed?
12. Planners estimate that most of the population growth in the south Lake Michigan area will take place in areas where the use of groundwater will be unsustainable. Should urban development be planned with consideration of watershed boundaries?
13. Why is Chicago able to send Lake Michigan water out of the watershed while Lowell has been denied access to Lake Michigan Water?
14. What is the potential role of water conservation in protecting and sustaining water supplies?