Research / R.03

Contextual Water Security Planning

2021–2025

A handbook synthesizing industry-standard methods for assessing site water security and formulating risk-mitigation strategies, built to guide site planners' long-term infrastructure investment decisions.

Grant funded through the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP).

Partner
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Role
Project lead — developed scope, authored the grant, led execution
Stack
Planning · GIS
Funding
~$500K ESTCP award
Water security assessment framework Groundwater assessment and regional infrastructure assessment feed a resilience framework, modified by external vulnerabilities, producing investment prioritization metrics. GROUNDWATER ASSESSMENT ON-SITE EXTRACTION REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE OFF-SITE DELIVERY RESILIENCE FRAMEWORK SITE + REGIONAL RISK INVESTMENT PRIORITIZATION PLANNING METRICS EXTERNAL VULNERABILITIES CONTAMINATION, RUNOFF, DEMAND
Fig. 01 — Water security assessment framework. Dashed: external vulnerability factors incorporated into the resilience framework.
Circular icon mark for 'Contextual Water Security Planning,' a stylized water-drop motif combining a site map, a water tower, a dam and pipeline, and infrastructure network nodes.
Fig. 02 — Program icon mark, Contextual Water Security Planning.
01 / Method
Assessment

Site water sources were evaluated across two primary categories: localized, on-site groundwater extraction and off-site delivery via regional infrastructure. A regional assessment proved critical to understanding a site's overall resilience, regardless of its immediate water source.

Vulnerabilities

The methodology accounted for external vulnerabilities, such as agricultural contamination, industrial runoff, and unsustainable demand from adjacent development, as well as the declining reliability of major regional water projects.

02 / Outcome
Outcome

The framework provided two primary benefits: a holistic understanding of regional risks alongside available site resources, and improved metrics to prioritize large-scale infrastructure investments.

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