Brad Reichel and Sybil Sharvelle
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, CSU
This portion of the research examines the potential impact of urban water conservation. Previous research efforts resulted in the development of the Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) Model. The model will assist water managers in the evaluation of suitability of traditional and alternative urban water management practices ensure equitable distribution of water resources and help to alleviate the demands placed on the ecosystem. The final version desktop version of IUWM can be downloaded from the link to the right under Highlights.
Current research efforts are focused on development of an improved web-based version of the IUWM model that will offer robust spatial analysis tools facilitated by the eRams framework. The model will be expanded to include economic analysis, nutrient loading, and enhanced consideration of hydrologic and hydraulic conditions. In order to achieve the expanded scope of the model the research group will be working closely with public utilities across the South Platte River Basin to gather data and collect information about their challenges and goals.
General Schematic of IUWM Inputs and Outputs
Goals and Objectives
- Evaluate cost and water savings associated with different urban water conservation practices to determine most appropriate practices for implementation.
- Investigate the impact of climate change on efficacy of urban water conservation practices.
- Evaluate how decisions on most appropriate urban water conservation practices may change under climate change conditions.
- Determine the reliability and resilience of water supply based on implementation of urban water conservation practices.
Expected Outcomes and Outputs
IUWM will be integrated into the larger OMS3 modeling framework, including development of input-output modules for the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Application of IUWM will provide an improved understanding of the effectiveness of water conservation measures in reducing the vulnerability of water supply under different climate and land use scenarios.
View of Updated IUWM Interface (Under Development)
