Demand for water expected to grow

Conservation needed now, expert says

LIBERTYVILLE -- The availability of fresh water, which we often take for granted, is finally getting the environmental attention it deserves, planners say.

"To protect our future, we need to start talking about water conservation now," said Randy Blankenhorn, executive director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, who opened a water supply planning briefing for county elected officials Friday at the county's Libertyville governmental campus.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says almost 16 billion gallons are used throughout the state daily, with 2 billion gallons not replenished.

Population growth projections for the 11-county Chicago metropolitan region through 2050 indicate that water will be in strong demand for both industry and households.

To prepare for these challenges CMAP is carrying out a state planning grant on regional water supply initiatives to project future estimates on water demand, prepare public conservation plans, and suggest environmental protections to preserve water quality.

State Sen. Susan Garrett, D-Lake Forest, called the subject "a huge, huge issue that needs to be addressed from a regional standpoint."

Garrett has been a legislative leader in fighting E. coli pollution of Lake Michigan's beaches. She told the group she was concerned about recent news reports regarding possible prescription drugs and toxic matter found in Lake Michigan drinking water.

Nearly 77 percent of residents in northeastern Illinois drink lake water daily. Another 19 percent use wells. Statistics show that the average person consumes or uses nearly 150 gallons of water daily.

Tim Loftus, a CMAP senior environmental planner who presented an update on water usage over the next 40 years, said it could range from an optimistic 2 percent growth rate to 59 percent.