Indicators: Water demand

On October 12, 2022, the CMAP Board approved an update to the ON TO 2050 long-range plan, including an updated indicators appendix.

This indicator tracks total daily water demand, as well as per capita demand for residential water use. Total water demand includes water that is withdrawn, treated, and delivered to residential, industrial, commercial, governmental, and institutional users via public supply water systems, as well as industrial and commercial wells. Assessing long-range forecasted demands can inform the region on the sufficiency of water supply and encourage actions that conserve water, protect supply, and/or pursue alternative drinking water sources.

Targets

This indicator has two sets of targets — one measuring total daily water demand, and one measuring daily residential water demand on a per capita basis. Per capita measurement allows for an examination of water conservation as an increase in total demand due to population or industrial growth can mask gains in conservation. At the same time, it is important to examine total demand because potable water is a finite resource and growth in our region is expected to increase the demand for water in 2050 above the current level of consumption.

Target values are based on the updated regional water demand forecast, which is set to be released in October 2018. The updated regional water demand forecast utilizes CMAP’s ON TO 2050 socio-economic forecast.

Total daily water demand

2025: 1,098 million gallons of water used daily

2050: 1,127 million gallons of water used daily

Indicator

Regional water demand, reported (2000-13) and projected (2015-50)

Key

•   Recent withdrawals
•   Projected withdrawals

Source

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning ON TO 2050 Regional Water Demand Forecast, 2018. Note: Even with more residents and jobs, water demand is anticipated to be relatively stable due to conservation and efficiency. Forecast includes withdrawals from public water supplies, industrial and commercial self-supply wells, and domestic self-supply wells.

See Indicators Appendix for methodology

Daily regional residential water demand per capita

2025: 72.7 gallons of water used daily per capita

2050: 65.2 gallons of water used daily per capita

Indicator

Daily residential water demand per capita

Key

•   Actual
•   Target

Source

Illinois State Water Survey (2002-2013), CMAP ON TO 2050 Regional Water Demand Forecast.

See Indicators Appendix for methodology

Lake Michigan withdrawals

In addition to overall water demand, water use from Lake Michigan is an area of interest for the CMAP region. In response to a U.S. Supreme Court consent decree, the State of Illinois regulates Lake Michigan water use for those communities with an allocation for lake water. This kindred indicator measures water use and levels of non-revenue water loss from community water suppliers in order to track conservation and water loss reduction efforts.

Indicator

Graphical representation of data follows.

Lake Michigan withdrawals, net annual pumpage and loss

Key

•   Net annual pumpage
•   Water lost

Source

Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Office of Water.

See Indicators Appendix for methodology

Deep bedrock aquifer withdrawals

In addition to reporting on overall water demand and the diversion of water from Lake Michigan, it will also be instructive to measure total annual groundwater withdrawals from deep bedrock aquifers (Ancell Unit of bedrock and deeper) in the CMAP region (measured in millions of gallons per day). This will help provide a more complete assessment of water conservation in the region.

Indicator

Deep bedrock aquifer withdrawals

Key

•   Deep bedrock aquifer withdrawals

Source

Illinois State Water Survey.

See Indicators Appendix for methodology

GO TO 2040 context

This indicator is adapted from the GO TO 2040 “Public Supply Water Demand” indicator, which was based on a water demand forecast focused on the public water supply sector. The ON TO 2050 indicator is based on a new water demand forecast, which also considers withdrawals from private wells serving businesses or private residences. As a result, the data and targets are not comparable between the two, although it should be noted that the GO TO 2040 targets allowed for an increase in overall demand while the ON TO 2050 targets are virtually flat despite anticipated population growth.