Selecting Optimal Water Supply Options — A Regional Water Supply Case Study in the Upper Kissimmee Basin, FL

Abstract

Central Florida's population is growing at a rapid pace and is approaching the limits of its available groundwater supplies. Considering this fact, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), and Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) foresee that additional groundwater withdrawals in Central Florida to meet future water demands beyond 2013 will be restricted. The objective of this initial feasibility study is to evaluate the availability of surface water in the upper Kissimmee River basin as an alternative supply source for Central Florida. As part of the Upper Kissimmee Basin Regional Water Feasibility Study, 28 integrated water supply options were identified and evaluated by developing a reservoir optimization model that minimizes both capital and O&M costs of various water supply components, such as intakes, reservoirs, water treatment plants, pumps, pipelines, and groundwater withdrawals, and so forth, and satisfies necessary physical constraints. The optimization approach appropriately sized the various water supply system components from both surface and groundwater sources to meet a desired yield target while addressing the primary environmental performance measures identified for the Kissimmee River restoration effort. In addition to minimizing water supply cost, reliability was also maximized using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. A key component of the feasibility study is to provide a planning-level estimate of surface-water availability and reservoir sizing for one or more project locations within the study area. This work was completed in August 2008 using interim operational criteria for the Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Additional refinements to the estimates of water availability and reservoir sizing are anticipated in the future as the current environmental criteria and operation schedules of the lake structures are modified in 2009.