Columbus City Utilities (CCU) is pleased to announce a partnership with Arcadis U.S., Inc. to develop a comprehensive Source Water Development Plan. As our community grows, CCU is taking proactive steps to ensure we have the capacity and infrastructure to meet water demands for decades to come.
The project will address several critical challenges, including substantial growth in system demand and the natural aging of existing wells, many of which date back to the 1960s and 70s. Over the next six months, experts will evaluate our current aquifer yields, analyze potential gaps in future supply, and identify the best locations for new well fields.
“As our community continues to grow, it is essential that we stay ahead of the curve in managing our most vital resource,” says Ashley Getz, Associate Director of Columbus City Utilities. “This Source Water Development Plan provides the technical foundation we need to address aging infrastructure and emerging water quality standards. By identifying our future needs and potential new water sources today, we are ensuring that CCU can continue to provide safe, reliable services to our residents for decades to come.”
Why Now?
Our source water system currently faces several complex pressures:
- Increased Demand: Substantial growth in residential and industrial water needs.
- Aging Infrastructure: Many production wells require more frequent maintenance as they reach the end of their typical lifecycles.
- Environmental Factors: Competing water users and the need to navigate evolving regulatory standards for water quality.
The Roadmap to 2026 and Beyond
The study consists of seven key phases:
- Data Review: Evaluating existing master plans and operational data.
- Demand Projections: Establishing future production goals based on growth trends.
- Capacity Evaluation: Estimating the sustainable yield of our current aquifers.
- Gap Analysis: Identifying exactly when and where future shortfalls might occur.
- Alternatives Analysis: Prioritizing new properties for potential well field expansion.
- Development Plan: Creating a timeline for infrastructure improvements.
- Technical Memorandum: A final report to guide Utility Service Board decisions.
