The impacts of climate change are already affecting the ability of water systems across the country to deliver safe and reliable drinking water and to manage wastewater. As the effects of climate change intensify, warmer temperatures and more frequent heat waves will increase demand for water, while declining snowpack and lower spring and summer flows will reduce surface water supplies. Both changes could affect groundwater recharge and supply. Climate-related natural hazards, such as wildfires, droughts and floods can damage infrastructure and compromise water quality.

The Water Utility Climate Alliance held two-day trainings in five cities across the country on building climate resilience in water utilities. Sessions addressed a range of topics, including climate modeling and dealing with uncertainty, and provided deep-dives into case studies from water utility systems. The trainings are meant to provide water utility professionals with applicable, practical skills and knowledge they can use to make their water systems more resilient to change.

CIG scientist Heidi Roop served as a trainer at two day-long workshops held in Portland, OR (2018), Los Angeles, CA (2018) and Tampa, FL (2019). She supported the technical climate change information presented and led two sessions on climate change communication in the water sector, as well as addressing and overcoming institutional barriers to change. 

The training provides an overview of public opinion on climate issues in the U.S. and in specific areas of the country. The training also provided techniques and resources for debunking climate myths, developing a shared language for discussing climate change and delivering effective climate messages. Finally, the training provided several resources for communicating about climate change with different audiences.

Using Climate Information in Water Utility Planning Webinar Series. This three-part webinar series was designed to help small and medium water utilities plan and design for climate change. Based on the feedback we received in a survey and focus groups of water utility managers, the series highlighted approaches and lessons learned from other utilities.

Water Utility Climate Alliance Case Studies. We collaborated with the Water Utility Climate Alliance to develop a suite of engineering case studies that showcase how the water sector is using climate change information in engineering design and project delivery processes.

Supporting Climate Resilience for Small and Medium Water Systems. The objective of this project is to provide technical assistance and support to small and medium water systems so they can incorporate climate resilience into water system planning.

Can’t Let the Taps Run Dry: Managing Water in an Unpredictable Climate | Yes Magazine. From southern Nevada to New York City, the climate crisis is causing ongoing water problems. The Water Utility Climate Alliance is working hard to ensure cities are prepared.