IRP - A CASE-STUDY FROM KANSAS

Because current supplies will not adequately meet its needs beyond 201 0, the city of Wichita, Kan., applied the integrated resource planning (IRP) process to develop a long-term water resource plan. The plan is environmentally, socially, and economically acceptable to the communi ty and holistically uses the city's local water resources on an ''as-a vailable'' basis. Key elements of the plan in addition to water conser vation and watershed management are use of trichloroethylene-remediate d and high-chloride groundwater, above-base (excess) flow from the Lit tle Arkansas River, expansion of a local wellfield, and recharge of a primary existing water source called the Equus Beds Wellfield. Overpum ping by irrigators, industries, and municipalities during the last 40 years caused a drawdown storage volume in the Equus Bed Wellfield, whi ch can hold 100 bil gal of water. Recharging the aquifer replenishes g roundwater storage and minimizes flow of chloride-contaminated water i nto the wellfield.