53:171 Water Resources Engineering
Problem #14
Water Usage in Iowa City as it Grows

Let's try to estimate some numbers for Iowa City water usage assuming the population increases to 100,000 people.

Start with the numbers reported in the Water Demands handout for Iowa City, and use the information for a typical city (also on the class handout), to estimate the following.

  1. The per capita usage for Iowa City (in gpcd).
  2. The average water usage for the city at the increased population in both million gallons per day (or MGD) and cubic feet per second (or cfs). Assume that the per capita usage remains unchanged.
  3. Using an estimate of consumptive uses (see HO Figure 1.1 to help with that part), estimate the how much of the city's water is discharged into the Iowa River (in cfs).  [NOTE: You'll need to consider the current distribution of city water requirements in making your estimate of the consumptive uses (or losses).]
  4. Estimate the water usage (from part b) and the portion returned as discharge (from c) as a fraction of the mean annual flow for the Iowa River.
Last changed on 02/25/14 by Gabriele Villarini.