ABSTRACT
Water supply planning is especially important in places that are experiencing rapid population growth and where water supplies are scarce. Planning for long-term supplies of high-quality water will be an increasingly important component of community and regional efforts to manage growth and create sustainable developments. The Action Strategy should include tools and techniques for achieving the goals and objectives for sustainable water supplies. The two main strategies in water supply planning are ensuring a reliable long-term water supply and managing water demand. Municipal water supply plans are often inadequate because aquifers and watersheds typically cross several municipal boundaries, and both groundwater and surface water sources may exist in places that are far from the city water users. The amount of precipitation and infiltration and rate of recharge of groundwater are important factors in estimating sustainable water supply. Monitoring wells and regular water testing can determine whether contaminants are migrating toward public water wells or groundwater sources.
