Question

An intern has asked why a unit demand of less than 440 Lpcd was selected for a village of 2,000 in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Explain why. Would your answer be different if the village was in the southern half of Arizona? Why?

Answer 1

Solution:

We know that the Upper peninsula region of Michigan receives considerable about 200 inches of snowfall every year. It consists of only 3% population of the entire Michigan region and it is bounded by Lake Superior, Michigan and Huron on 3 sides. Presence of deep fissures producing clear and fresh water is also evident. the average water demand of an American family is 300 gallons/ day or 1136 liters per day. So an average of 500 liters per capita per day. This difference between the demand and supply is met by the sparse population and availability of fresh water elsewhere in the region.

The southern half of Arizona is mstly an arid or semi- arid region bordering Mexico. Although the Colorado and Gila river flow through the region there is considerable presence of desert regions especially the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. Thus the presence of fresh water is less and due to scanty rainfall the ground conditions are mostly dry.Hence the water demand should be relatively high in this region.