Full Description

Most sustainable water supply withdrawals have connections to lakes, streams,or aquifers. Sustainability is a concept that is based on connections. To besustainable is to provide for the needs of the present without detracting from theability to fulfill the needs of the future. All water withdrawals have impacts -some good, and some not so good. Water supply withdrawal often means lesswater remains from the source for other uses. This paper discusses howSeattle Public Utilities uses conservation to help address environmental issuesrelated to in-stream flow and aquifer management that include: meeting required absolute minimum flows (Federal (FERC) and state waterright/claim requirements);negotiated in-stream flows using an In-Stream Flow Commission established by formal agreementbetween Seattle Public Utilities and various resource management agencies that allows a variety of non-utility interests (stakeholders) tohave input and a voice in current and future decisions made by the utilityrelative to in-stream flow;creation of an institutional mechanism called the "water bank" forwithdrawal and deposit of water needed to benefit in-stream flow in selectedhigh-stress situations (critical flow streams) that makes provision todedicate water conserved from utility demand management so that it can bereserved for in-stream flow needs in either the supply watershed or someother aquifer or watershed of urgent need; and, linking the concepts of adequate water for fish AND people with a publiceducation effort so those citizens who understand the important connectionbetween them.

Product Details

Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 01/11/2004 Number of Pages: 5File Size: 1 file , 200 KB