CLIMATE CHANGE
Preparing for
Climate Chai
at New England
Wastewater Utilities
U.S. EPA | CLIMATE CHANGE OUTREACH AT EPA NEW ENGLAND
WATER RESOURCES: Future changes to
temperature and precipitation patterns will have a significant effect
on the way we manage our water resources. Based on the Northeast
Climate Impacts Assessment report from 2006, New England will experience the following
over the next century: longer, hotter, drier summers; shorter, warmer winters; fewer rain
events with more frequent and intense storms; and, rising sea level.
INTRO:
Climate change is already occurring and is expected to have a wide range of consequences on wastewater
treatment in New England. By considering the potential effects of climate change, we can make improvements
today to decrease our risks in the future. The following information is intended to assist New England waste-
water utilities in preparing to effectively anticipate and respond to the relevant issues that they can expect to
face in the coming century.
IMPACTS ON
WASTEWATER UTILITIES:
Wastewater utilities should be aware of the following
impacts that climate change will have on their sector:
• Increased risk of flooding
• Increased likelihood of combined sewer
overflows (CSOs)
• Higher risk of inundation and storm
damage for coastal facilities
• Higher effluent treatment levels
WHAT WASTEWATER
UTILITIES CAN DO:
Preparing for the impacts of climate change begins by
first indentifying the particular risks and concerns for
your utility (e.g., insufficient capacity to produce more
highly-treated effluents, heightened risk of flooding,
increased likelihood of combined sewer overflows, etc.).
You can find models that work on small geographic
scales (i.e., downscale models) at http://northeastcli-
matedata.org. Once this is done, there are certain cost-
effective measures that you can take to minimize those
risks while providing additional benefits to your utility.
You can use opportunities such as periodic larger-
scale system evaluations and the contemplation of
planned upgrades or new construction to incorporate
climate change considerations into your facility design.
For example, the Massachusetts Water Resources Author-
ity's Deer Island Treatment Plant was built on an elevated
foundation to accommodate projected sea level rise.
Compiling an inventory of utility assets (i.e., any compo-
nent with an independent physical and functional identity
and age, such as pumps, motors, intakes, tanks, or mains)
can help you determine the location, importance and
condition of each asset. This knowledge will ultimately
lead to an improved response in emergency situations,
more predictable maintenance and capital replacement
budgets, and improved security of your system.
Implementing measures for energy efficiency can help to
both save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
You can make your utility more energy efficient by making
improvements to infrastructure (e.g., pumping stations,
collection systems), getting an energy audit to improve
efficiency, or by using renewable energy sources.
Investing in green infrastructure projects, such as
low impact development (LID), can help manage wet
weather to improve water quality, reduce hydraulic
loads on combined sewers, and reduce the risk of
flooding. More information on green infrastructure
projects can be found at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/
home.cfm?program_id=298.
KEY CONTACT:
JACKIE LECLAIR
Manager
Municipal Assistance Unit
U.S. EPA New England
(617) 918-1549
leclair.jackie@epa.gov
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
1 Congress Street
Boston, MA 02114-2023
www.epa.gov/ne/
TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE:
1-800-EPA-7341
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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EPA-901-F-09-037
November 2009
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