Power Development and Water Allocation in Ohio River Basin

Widespread adoption of evaporative cooling towers will significantly increase water consumption by power plants over the coming decades. The analysis presented includes consideration of allocation issues associated with other growing competitive uses: (1) municipal; (2) industrial; (3) irrigation; and (4) in stream uses. Given hypothetical plant siting strategies suggested by the initial work of the Ohio River Basin Energy Study, consumption will represent high percentages of flows in the tributary basins of the lower Ohio River Basin, especially during 7-day, 10-yr low-flow conditions. Consumption levels are shown for tributary river basins in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Alternatives to high levels of consumption are suggested. In addition to presenting an analysis of water allocation in the Ohio Basin, the paper suggests a useful framework for analyzing water allocation in other regions.