&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
Adaptation Strategies Guide
for Water Utilities
*;
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Climate Ready Water Utilities
Adaptation Strategies Guide
for Water Utilities
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
&EBV
Office of Water (4608-T) EPA 817-K-15-001 February 2015
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DISCLAIMER
The Climate Ready Water Utilities Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities was
prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an informational resource
to assist drinking water and wastewater utility owners in understanding and addressing
climate change risks. It does not purport to be a comprehensive or exhaustive list of all
impacts and potential risks from climate change.
The information contained in this Guide was developed in accordance with best industry
practices. It should not be exclusively relied on in conducting risk assessments or
developing response plans. This information is also not a substitute for the professional
advice of an attorney or environmental or climate change professional. This information
is provided without warranty of any kind and EPA hereby disclaims any liability for
damages, arising from the use of the Guide, including, without limitation, direct, indirect
or consequential damages including personal injury, property loss, loss of revenue, loss of
profit, loss of opportunity or other loss.
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Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DISCLAIMER i
ABOUT THIS GUIDE v
INTRODUCTION 1
REFERENCES 15
GLOSSARY OF ADAPTATION OPTIONS 23
WORKSHEET FOR ADAPTATION PLANNING 31
SAMPLE WORKSHEET FOR ADAPTATION PLANNING 33
CLIMATE REGION BRIEFS
National 4nL^ B^f* *^ Soutnwest
Northeast itotfj^ Northwest
Southeast H Alaska
Midwest J ป(^ * ^~ Pacific Islands
Great Plains T^-\. - . Coasts
.*p4T- ^P ~>
STRATEGY BRIEFS
Group: Drought
Reduced Groundwater Recharge (DW)
Lower Lake & Reservoir Levels (DW)
Changes in Seasonal Runoff & Loss of Snowpack (DW)
Group: Water Quality Degradation
Low Flow Conditions & Altered Water Quality (WW)
Saltwater Intrusion into Aquifers (DW)
Altered Surface Water Quality (DW)
Altered Surface Water Quality (WW)
Group: Floods
High Flow Events & Flooding (DW)
High Flow Events & Flooding (WW)
Flooding from Coastal Storm Surges (DW)
Flooding from Coastal Storm Surges (WW)
Group: Ecosystem Changes
Loss of Coastal Landforms/Wetlands (DW/WW)
Increased Fire Risk & Altered Vegetation (DW/WW)
Group: Service Demand and Use
Volume &Temperature Challenges (DW)
Volume &Temperature Challenges (WW)
Changes in Agricultural Water Demand (DW)
Changes in Energy Sector Needs & Energy Needs of Utilities (DW/WW)
SUSTAINABILITY BRIEFS
Green Infrastructure
Energy Management
Water Demand Management
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xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Climate change presents several challenges to drinking water and wastewater utilities, including increased
frequency and duration of droughts, floods associated with intense precipitation events and coastal storms,
degraded water quality, wildfires and coastal erosion and subsequent changes in demand for services. While
these impacts have been documented in numerous publications, finding the right information for your
type of utility or geographic region can be difficult and sometimes overwhelming. Therefore, the goals
of the Adaptation Strategies Guide are (1) to provide drinking water and wastewater utilities with a basic
understanding of how climate change can impact utility operations and missions, and (2) to provide examples
of different actions utilities can take (i.e., adaptation options) to prepare for these impacts.
The climate information included in this Guide (identified as projected and observed change statements
throughout the document) has been updated to reflect the findings from the U.S. Global Change Research
Program (USGCRP) 2014 Report. For more information on the changes to the climate data found in the USGCRP
2014 Report and this Guide, see the "Updated Climate Information" section below. Global climate research,
conducted by international research groups, has generated projections of future climate conditions based on
historical climate data (i.e., temperature, precipitation and sea level) as well as simulations based on scientific
understanding of atmospheric processes. These groups and other research institutions have translated and
"downscaled" projections from global models to produce projections at national, regional and local scales.
In many cases, projected changes in climate may generate specific impacts or challenges for drinking water
and wastewater utilities that are described within this Guide. This process of translating global climate
projections into the challenges that drinking water and wastewater utilities may face is outlined in Figure 1.1
and is described in greater detail in the 2014 USGCRP report and in other reports being released as part of the
National Climate Assessment process (http://www.globalchange.gov/what-we-do/assessment).
Adapting your utility system and operations to climate change challenges requires consideration and planning.
However, adaptation planning is not necessarily a new effort distinct from other utility practices. Since
adaptation strategies often provide multiple benefits, adaptation planning can be integrated into existing
efforts for emergency response planning, capacity development, capital investment planning, water supply
and demand planning, conservation practices, sustainability goals and infrastructure maintenance.
Global Data
Historical data and model
V^ projections
National Projections i
"" -
V
Projected change and
associated impacts
* Regional Projections i
Projected change and
associated impacts
Challenges
Potential impacts most
relevant to water and
\^ wastewater utilities J
Figure 1.1. Scheme to translate climate data and model outputs into challenges for
water utilities. Model run images from USGCRP (2009).
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ABOUTTHIS GUIDE
Updated Climate Information
Climate data within the Guide reflects the most
up-to-date information available from the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) and National Climate Assessment (NCA).
Climate change models use scenarios of future
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (e.g., CO2
emissions) to generate projections of future climate
conditions. These projections of temperature and
precipitation patterns can be used to help inform
planning decisions. However, since future global
GHG emissions are uncertain, decision-makers
planning for climate change often consider a range
of future climate conditions, as informed by multiple
scenarios. As scientists learn more about climate
change, models improve and new scenarios can be
incorporated into adaptive planning processes.
New climate projections were informed by the new
data and climate change scenarios developed by the
IPCC. This version of the Adaptation Strategies Guide
incorporates the latest climate data from both the
IPCC and NCA. One significant change in the IPCC
data was the development of four Representative
Concentration Pathways (RCPs), which were used to
generate new projected climate data. An example of
the comparison between projections from the RCPs
and the four Special Report on Emissions Scenarios
(SRES) data, which informed prior versions of this
Guide is shown in Figure 1.2. In general, the trends
and magnitudes of change in the new data are
similar to those of the previous data.
SRESA2
RCPS 5
SRESA1B
RCP6.0
"^f
RCP4.5
~>i
RCP26
Precipitation Change <%)
-30 -20
-10
10
20
30
Figure 1.2. Comparison of projected wintertime precipitation
changes between SRES and RCP scenarios (USGCRP 2014).
Using four different types of informational briefs, this Guide will walk you through an understanding of climate
information at your location, what challenges you may expect to see and the adaptation options you can use to
address each climate challenge. Figure 1.3 depicts the general process followed using this Guide.
It should be noted that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for utilities when it comes to adaptation planning. It
is important to use the information provided within the Guide to develop an adaptation plan that fits with your
utility's available resources, priorities and relevant climate challenges. An adaptation Planning Worksheet is
also included in the Guide to help identify and organize adaptation options that interest you. Either (1) print the
worksheet and fill in the fields by hand while browsing through the Guide or (2) type in the fields electronically.
Be sure to print or save the worksheet before closing the Guide.
After reading the introductory material of the Guide, you will be able to choose one of nine different U.S. climate
regions from a map. Selecting a region will bring you to the corresponding Climate Region Brief, which lists and
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Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
ABOUT THIS GUIDE
describes projected changes in climate. The Guide includes a Climate Region Brief for each of the nine climate
regions, as well as a National Brief that outlines the major climate impacts that face the United States as a whole.
The boundaries of the nine climate regions were taken from the USGCRP 2014 Report, and were determined
based on historical and projected climate data and trends. It is expected that locations within the same region
can expect to experience similar climate impacts in the future (e.g., some regions will be warmer and wetter while
others will be hotter and drier).
Each Climate Region Brief includes a table of climate impacts that are relevant to utilities in this region (i.e., high
flow events and flooding, volume and temperature changes, altered surface water quality). Clicking on one of
those impacts for either drinking water or wastewater will bring you to a Strategy Brief. These Strategy Briefs
provide more detailed information on a particular impact and list adaptation options that, when implemented at
your utility, can help to address that impact and ensure that your system is better prepared for related impacts.
Relative cost information is included for each adaptation option, as well.
Another set of briefs, the Group Briefs, is included within this Guide to provide more general information on
regional climate impacts. Individual impacts have been categorized into five different groups, with each group
having its own brief: drought, flood, water quality degradation, ecosystem changes and service demand and use.
Accordingly, each Group Brief summarizes the overarching and specific climate impacts within that group and
also contains a compiled list of all adaptation measures applicable to the individual impacts within the group.
Climate Region Briefs
START
Climate impacts by region
Group Briefs 1
Adaptation options for
^ general groups of impacts
Sustainability Briefs
Strategy Briefs
/ PLANNING
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Adaptation options for
specific impacts J
Worksheet for
Adaptation
Planning
Plan to implement
adaptation options
T
Adaptation options that
ป build sustainability j
Figure 1.3. General process followed when using this Guide. Start with either Climate Region or
Group Briefs to identify specific Strategy Briefs to review. Adaptation options from these briefs can be
cataloged in the Worksheet for Adaptation Planning to support planning efforts. You may alternatively
choose to start with the Sustainability Briefs if you are interested in considering options that will provide
both climate resilience and other social, economic and environmental benefits.
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Finally, Sustainability Briefs describe how sustainable strategies, specifically Green Infrastructure, Energy
Management and Water Demand Management activities, can be used in conjunction with adaptation planning.
These Sustainability Briefs can be accessed at any point in the Guide, and provide information on the benefits of
sustainable practices, and how utilities can begin implementing some of these practices. If your utility is already
pursuing Green Infrastructure, Energy Management or Water Demand Management activities, these briefs
may help you to identify opportunities for coordinating adaptation strategies with these existing sustainable
initiatives. If your utility has not yet considered sustainable practices, you can learn more about these options by
reviewing the Sustainability Briefs.
If you have any questions about or feedback on the Adaptation Strategies Guide, or would like to suggest new
material (e.g., examples) to include, please email CRWUhelptSepa.gov.
HOWTO USE THIS GUIDE
You can navigate this Guide as if it were a website. Instructions indicating clickable links can be
found in the Table of Contents, the last section of the Introduction and within all of the briefs. Many
of the links are represented with an icon or picture, while others are hyperlinked and displayed with
underlined text (e.g., Worksheet for Adaptation Planning). Clicking on the I
button will bring you back to the last section of the Introduction where you ca onefs
in the Guide. From anywhere in the Guide, you can also return to a previously viewed page by
pressing the ALT key with the left arrow key.
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INTRODUCTION
The Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities provides adaptation options for drinking water, wastewater
and stormwater utilities based on region and projected climate impacts. While specific example adaptation
options are described in the Guide, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for adaptation planning. Utilities will
need to use the information included in this Guide to assist them in developing plans that contain adaptation
options suited to their specific needs, taking into consideration their location, climate impacts of concern and
available resources. Utilities should collaborate with state and federal authorities, interdependent sectors (i.e.,
energy, agriculture, forestry and wildlife) and other nearby utilities early in the adaptation planning process to
ensure comprehensive and consistent planning.
Readers should use this Guide as an informational resource to identify potential strategies for adapting
to climate change impacts.This Introduction provides background information to promote a better
understanding of the adaptation planning process. The document then allows users to identify their relevant
challenges by climate region and consider potential adaptation options to address these challenges. Finally, a
Worksheet for Adaptation Planning is provided to allow users to organize the information in this Guide and
tailor it to their utility.
Why should a utility develop an adaptation plan?
Addressing climate change at a utility is a complex issue. Utilities are expected to encounter many
challenges related to the impacts of projected future climate change. Because utilities also must address
issues related to budget, aging infrastructure and other concerns, adaptation options that can address
these issues in addition to providing greater resilience to climate impacts, are preferable. Climate change
adaptation strategies may provide benefits such as more sustainable and efficient operations, cost savings,
maintenance of adequate water supply and quality and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Every
utility has its own unique priorities and set of resources and will be impacted by climate change differently.
Therefore, it is important to consider many different options and the range of benefits offered in order to
develop a comprehensive adaptation plan that satisfies utility needs without overstretching resources.
Adaptation planning is not a new nor separate effort for managing utilities. Implementing adaptation strategies
that provide multiple benefits can be integrated into current asset management, permit compliance, emergency
response planning, capacity development and other decision-making processes at utilities.
Example of Approach to Incorporate Climate Change into Long-Term Planning:
Following deadly flash floods in 1997, the City of Fort Collins Utilities (FCU), Colorado, refocused its
planning efforts around extreme precipitation events. FCU initiated a Climate Change Adaptation Study to
examine possible future impacts of shifts in weather patterns. The purpose of this study was to understand
the impacts of possible climate shifts and to design a framework to incorporate climate adaptation
into FCU's ongoing asset management planning. As a mid-sized, combined drinking water, wastewater,
stormwater and electric utility service provider, FCU has identified a need to adopt an integrated approach
to adaptation and risk assessment. This approach would complement the integration of shifting weather
patterns into utility design and management processes.
In summary, FCU has adopted the overarching goal of integrating adaptation planning into daily business
practices by (1) embracing a dynamic, iterative process, (2) minimizing staff and resource burden by continually
refining the process and (3) leveraging ties to asset management. One important step continued on next page
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Example of Approach to Incorporate Climate Change into Long-Term Planning (continued)
towards this goal has been the use of the Joint Front Range Climate Vulnerability Study (CWCB 2011) as a source
for climate scenarios that are based on model run results, including a range of possible futures: hot and dry;
warm and wet; extreme drought; extreme precipitation and an average or "median conditions"scenario.
From these scenarios, FCU has drawn information on impacts to water resources and potential flood events.
For example, warmer and wetter winters may lead to decreased winter snowpack, increased rainfall and
earlier spring melt and runoff for the area. With this information, FCU has (1) identified the risks related to
these impacts, (2) considered consequences with respect to customers, operations and the environment
through these risk assessments, and (3) evaluated adaptation options to address these risks and build a more
resilient operation.
What is adaptation planning?
An integral part of increasing utility climate change resilience is to conduct a risk assessment and adopt
an associated decision-support framework (Figure 2.1). This framework should be an iterative process of
identifying projected impacts and challenges, assessing risks from these impacts, selecting and implementing
adaptation options and then revisiting assessments when new information is available or when additional
capacity to implement options is in place. The framework should also include other stressors besides climate
change (e.g., changes in land use, population and regulatory changes).
Example of Adaptation Planning:
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy significantly challenged the operations of New York City's Department of
Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), which provides drinking water, wastewater treatment and stormwater
management services to over 9 million people. NYC DEP was able to continue to provide drinking water services
throughout the storm, but 10 of the 14 wastewater treatment plants and 42 out of 96 pumping stations
were damaged or lost power, resulting in the release of untreated or partially treated wastewater into local
waterways. Hurricane Sandy was an example of the types of impacts that NYC DEP may continue to see in the
future without adaptation.
For almost a decade, however, NYC DEP has taken a proactive approach to planning for climate change,
beginning in 2004 when the utility partnered with Columbia University to conduct a climate vulnerability
assessment and identify potential adaptation strategies, summarized in the 2008 Climate Change Program:
Assessment and Action Plan. Based on the results of that assessment, the utility expanded their studies of climate
impacts on both water supply, including the potential for increased turbidity and changes in streamflow and
runoff related to reduced snow accumulation, and wastewater treatment, including the impacts of sea-level
rise and storm surge on coastal infrastructure. Following Hurricane Sandy, NYC DEP expanded its wastewater
study to conduct a more detailed, citywide risk assessment to identify which wastewater infrastructure is most
vulnerable to flooding during extreme weather events both now and in the future.
According to this assessment, all of the city's 14 wastewater treatment plants have assets at risk to flooding from
sea-level rise and storm surge impacts for the 2050s based on a "high end" sea-level rise projection of an increase
of 30 inches, compared to a 2000-2004 baseline (NYC 2013). Fifty eight of the 96 pumping stations were also
shown to be vulnerable. The City's potential exposure from the projected sea-level rise and related storm surge
impacts was estimated to be $900 million at wastewater treatment plants and $220 million at pumping stations.
continued on next page
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Example of Adaptation Planning: (continued)
Based on the results of their risk assessment, NYC DEP developed a portfolio of strategies to protect wastewater
assets from flooding impacts. Strategies include: dry flood-proofing buildings with watertight windows and
doors, elevating equipment, making pumps submersible and protecting electrical equipment with watertight
casings, constructing external flood barriers, installing sandbags temporarily, and providing backup power
generation to pumping stations. Through strategically implementing a variety of strategies, considering utility
resilience and return on investment, the utility could avoid 90% of risk citywide to wastewater treatment plants
and ensure continuous service at pumping stations (NYC 2013).
1 Understand
projected
impacts and
challenges
The first step in developing an adaptation plan is to gain a better understanding of how
climate change, in combination with other stressors, may impact infrastructure and
operations. These impacts could already be detectable or anticipated in the long term.
The Climate Region Briefs included in this Guide provide an overview of national and
regional climate projections from a recent assessment by the U.S. Global Change Research
Program (2014) and list specific impacts relevant to water and wastewater utilities. Seethe
references and links to additional information and resources.
2 Identify
thresholds for
failure or
damage
3 Assess risks
The second step to consider is cataloging threshold conditions for critical assets,
operational components and utility organization systems that may fail or suffer damage
when challenged by climate change impacts. When compared to projected climate
conditions, thresholds represent the capacity of the utility that may be bolstered through
the implementation of adaptation plans. These thresholds can be determined through
review of event and performance history, modeling of system performance or inspection
of assets. For example, the elevation of coastal facilities, combined with precipitation
totals could define the flood stage or combination of sea-level rise and storm intensity as
thresholds for flooding.
After gaining a better understanding of both the thresholds for failure and the projected
impacts, it is important to identify potential risks to infrastructure and operations. While
there is no further guidance for conducting a risk assessment in this Guide, EPA's Climate
Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) is available for free download and
provides a framework for utilities to conduct a climate change risk assessment.
4 Determine
adaptation
options
Results from a risk assessment can be used to identify options that reduce system
vulnerabilities. The Strategy Briefs included in this Guide provide general information on
the impacts of climate change and lists of adaptation options that can be implemented to
reduce potential consequences to operations and infrastructure. In addition to reducing
risk, options should also be considered with respect to (1) current utility improvement
plans and priorities and (2) current and projected available resources. For example, if
assessments indicate high risk to coastal outfalls and pumps from flooding, then options
to mitigate flood damage should be considered with respect to overall infrastructure
planning and general system updates.
5 Implement
and monitor
Following the design and implementation of any adaptation plan, utilities are encouraged
to monitor conditions, compare results to projections and reassess both risk and
adaptation options as new information becomes available. Monitoring should include
remaining aware of new climate information and tools as they become available.
Figure 2.1. General process steps for adaptation planning. Steps are numbered based on the process
described in this Guide. Other stressors (e.g., land use changes and population growth) contribute to the
overall assessment and may, in turn, be altered by the adaptation options implemented. Steps "1 Understand
projected impacts & challenges"and "4 Determine adaptation options"are addressed within this Guide.
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Adaptation planning involves more than just a review of options for facility owners and operators to
consider. Several technical and informational resources are required to support planning. For example,
inundation maps, precipitation projections and flood models may all need to be employed in the
determination of thresholds for flooding and the assessment of adaptation options to mitigate losses.
Utilities can access this information through a number of resources (see Example Resources).
How does a utility identify adaptation strategies for consideration?
Historically, utilities have applied the assumption that, while observed temperature and precipitation
conditions may exhibit large variations, the variability and average conditions will remain consistent into
the future. This assumption, often referred to as stationarity, will be compromised as climate changes. Many
climate models project that future climate conditions (e.g., intensity of precipitation events, sea-level rise,
temperature increases) may experience increased variability compared to that seen in the past; historical
data and trends may no longer be accurate indicators for future climate conditions. Utilities should therefore
adopt a flexible and iterative approach when considering what adaptation options to implement, and ensure
that strategies are complementary to capacity building, emergency response activities, capital planning and
sustainability planning. An adaptive approach will result in robust decision-making that builds operations that
are successful regardless of the climate impacts faced by a utility.
In addition to the shift from stationarity in climate, utilities are increasingly recognizing that future energy
prices and ecological conditions may not be predictable based on historical observations.These shifts
may require utilities to change how they operate and manage their resources to ensure that they can
withstand and adjust to these changes. Sustainability at a water utility is maintained through practices that
address today's needs while ensuring continued and long-term provision of clean and safe water. Many
sustainable practices offer opportunities to address climate-related challenges in a socially, economically and
environmentally responsible way. The Sustainability Briefs included in this Guide address areas of overlap
between adaptation and three types of sustainable practices: energy management, green infrastructure and
water demand management.
Energy management can reduce operational costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase service
flexibility. Practices that are generally considered part of energy management include any action taken
to reduce, optimize or increase energy efficiency, including service demand reduction, or generation of
energy on-site.These practices also provide opportunities to engage stakeholders in the long-term, forming
collaborative partnerships that support a more sustainable community. From an adaptation planning
perspective, utilities should consider the energy use implications of new decisions or operational changes
and consider how alternate or additional options may limit any increase in energy needs.To access the Energy
Management Sustainability Brief, click on this icon.
Another sustainable strategy, green infrastructure, involves the use of natural systems (or engineered systems
that mimic them) to help control runoff, capture stormwater and reduce water demand. Some common green
infrastructure practices include green roofs, rain gardens, land acquisition and using permeable pavements. As
an adaptation strategy, green infrastructure can help address both current and projected challenges related to
stormwater management while also complementing the use of more traditional, grey infrastructure. One key
advantage of green infrastructure is that projects can be phased in gradually, allowing projects to be adjusted
as necessary. Pursuit of green infrastructure activities also promotes collaboration with stakeholders and
local governments when considering the benefits of community-scale implementation. To access the Green
Infrastructure Sustainability Brief, click on this icon.
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Water demand management practices can increase the sustainability and long-term availability of water
supplies. Climate impacts, such as increasing temperatures and the increased risk of prolonged periods of
drought, combined with non-climate impacts such as population growth, can contribute to unsustainable
demands on water services, increasing the risk of water shortages. Water demand management encompasses
both water efficiency and conservation practices and can occur both on the supply side (related to drinking
water utility actions to increase the efficiency of delivering water to customers) and the demand side (related
to customer actions to reduce the amount of water used in homes and businesses). Asa part of an adaptation
plan, water demand management practices can allow a utility to continue to meet demand for services while
reducing the need to develop new source water to expand existing supplies. To access the Water Demand
Management Sustainability Brief, click on this icon.;
Example of Sustainability Planning
Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) in Camden, New Jersey is responding to rising energy
costs, climate change and population growth by examining and improving system efficiency through a
number of sustainable or "green" initiatives. To ensure the long-term viability of their operations, CCMUA has
set four goals: (1) optimize water quality, (2) improve air quality, (3) minimize costs and (4) reduce energy
and carbon consumption. It was a priority for CCMUA to not increase rates for its customers, so all of these
initiatives and planned activities listed below are considered rate neutral, or in the case of some of the energy
efficiency initiatives, actually allowed for lower rates.
CCMUA plans to switch to 100% green energy sources by 2017. The first step towards this goal was to minimize
energy use in its system by reducing infiltration/inflow, using gravity connections to replace municipal
pumping stations, implementing electric peak shaving, using heating loops and energy-efficient equipment
and lighting and installing catalytic converters to improve air quality by reducing emissions. These efforts to
minimize energy use at the utility were completed using a $10 million low interest State Revolving Fund (SRF)
loan. The utility sees about $600,000 in energy savings per year, which is greater than the yearly payments
to repay the SRF loan. These upgrades were done at strategic times when equipment already needed to be
updated or replaced.
To get closer to its goal of 100% green energy, CCMUA installed a 1.8 megawatt solar panel array through a
purchase agreement. The solar panels and their maintenance were at no cost to CCMUA and the utility buys
power from the contractor at a discounted rate. The solar panels power 10% of energy needs at the wastewater
treatment plant and are projected to save $300,000 in energy costs in the first year and $7 million over the life
of the 15-year power purchase agreement. The remaining phases of the CCMUA green energy initiative include
installing a digester facility by 2016 that would produce enough biogas to meet about 50% to 60% of the
utility's power needs. CCMUA also received a $ 1 million grant from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to
implement an innovative sewage-to-heat facility which converts latent heat in sewage into heat at the plant.
It is expected that this process will be adopted by other large facilities (e.g., hotels) and will have widespread
implications across the water-energy industry.
In 2011, CCMUA founded a partnership group called the Camden SMART initiative that integrates water
conservation and green infrastructure in order to reduce infiltration/inflow as well as the number of
Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). Camden SMART is a collaboration of CCMUA, Rutgers University, the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and two local non-profit organizations: Cooper's
Ferry Partnership and the New Jersey Tree Foundation. These organizations work together to design, build
and maintain rain gardens throughout Camden, NJ, including a few on remediated continued on next page
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Example of Sustainability Planning (continued)
brownfield sites. These rain gardens cost an average of $4.59 per square foot to install and $0.05 per gallon of
stormwater diverted from the collection system.
From 2011 to 2014, the Camden SMART initiative planted over 300 new trees and installed 30 rain gardens,
capturing approximately 3 million gallons of stormwater per year. CCMUA also received a $5.5 million, low
interest loan from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to "daylight" a stream that was previously
paved over, convert an abandoned industry building into a riverfront park and construct 10 additional rain
gardens. These projects are expected to capture over 30 million gallons of stormwater per year, further reducing
the impacts ofCSOs. In addition to the work through Camden SMART, CCMUA is reducing CSOs by optimizing
the sewer system's performance through changes in operations and maintenance (e.g., cleaning inlets, replacing
netting systems, jetlines, etc.) and by pursuing targeted capital replacement and sewer separation.
The Camden SMART initiative and CCMUA have also partnered to establish a water conservation program to
alleviate issues associated with reduced water pressure in times of drought and to reduce the burden on the
combined sewer system. Camden City has adopted anew water conservation ordinance that limits days and
times residents can water lawns and run irrigation systems. To assist customers in conserving water in homes
and businesses, CCMUA has distributed water conservation kits and provides conservation tips and information
in quarterly bill inserts to increase awareness of conservation practices. At the utility itself, CCMUA is also
undertaking an aggressive water loss investigation to reduce potable water loss. Together, these activities reduce
water use, which increases the efficiency ofCCMUA's operations and reduces costs for customers.
Because climate science is evolving and uncertainty surrounds the timing, nature, direction and magnitude of
related impacts, it is important for utilities to continuously assess and respond to new risks and opportunities
during the adaptation planning process.This iterative approach has been described for water utilities as
part of the Plan-Do-Check-Act approach. This approach is a project-management cycle that can be helpful
in promoting continuous improvement by emphasizing evaluation of progress and corrective action when
necessary (for more information, see EPA's Enemy Management Guidebook for Wastewater and Water
Utilities}.
The National Drinking Water Advisory Council's (NDWAC) Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) Workgroup
proposed an adaptive management approach based on a concept similar to Plan-Do-Check-Act.The NDWAC
report (2010) outlined steps a utility can take to become more "climate ready." Climate ready water utilities
are those drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities that are engaged in the process of conducting
activities to better understand their climate risks, planning to address climate impacts and implementing
adaptation measures to reduce the consequences of climate change. Based on their findings, EPA developed
an Adaptive Response Framework to guide utilities through the process of becoming climate ready. Utilities
are encouraged to explore each element as part of an adaptive management approach. The Adaptive
Response Framework, provides six elements to help utilities build climate readiness: awareness, adaptation,
mitigation, policies, community and partnership (Figure 2.2).
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Climate
Ready
Mitigation
Policies
Figure 2.2. The six elements of the Adaptive Response Framework.
Suggested Actions from the Adaptive Response Framework:
Climate Impacts & Uncertainties:
Maintain a basic awareness of climate science developments and implications for local operational
conditions.
Encourage utility personnel to examine operating conditions in light of the potential for climate
change challenges.
Conduct screening-level climate impact assessments to identify obvious threats and opportunities.
Integrate climate impact considerations into normal planning and decision making, including
emergency response, capacity and capital planning.
Utility Adaptation & Mitigation Opportunities:
Understand organizational, operational and capital investment options undertaken by similar
utilities to better understand opportunities for no- and low-cost and no-regrets, operational actions
and capital investments.
Expand efforts to identify, understand and evaluate utility climate adaptation and mitigation
practices (e.g., enhanced long-range planning methods, hedging strategies and supply and
treatment diversification options).
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What types of adaptation strategies are included in this Guide?
An effective adaptation plan should include a diverse set of actions that are integrated into other planning
efforts, operating practices and infrastructure improvements.Through integrated strategies, utilities can
ensure that adaptation actions will address a broad range of challenges while remaining flexible enough
to adapt to changing climate conditions and new information. For example, the need for infrastructure
improvements can be informed by monitoring conditions, while current emergency response plans can
provide resilience until improvements are in place. In this Guide, comparison and prioritization of adaptation
options are not provided, although the options are broadly categorized based on the level of effort and
relative costs required in their implementation. The three categories of adaptation options included are:
Planning strategies, which include use of models, research, training, supply and demand planning,
natural resource management, land use planning and collaboration at watershed and community
scales;
Operational strategies, which include efficiency improvements, monitoring, inspections,
conservation, demand management and flexible operations; and
Capital / infrastructure strategies, which include construction, water resource diversification, repairs
and retrofits, upgrades, phased construction and new technology adoption.
These adaptation options are categorized in terms of the relative anticipated cost of implementation. Planning
strategies tend to be relatively less costly than operational and capital strategies; however, there is some diversity
in costs within each category. Another factor to consider in assessing costs of options is the potential to recover
funds directly (e.g., sell generated power) or avoid costs from inaction (e.g., emergency spending on flood
recovery). These benefits effectively reduce the costs of options and need to be explored by each utility as part of
the selection and implementation of adaptation options. Three relative cost levels are used in the Guide:
$ Many utilities will try to cope with change by assessing their options to expand operational
flexibility to meet the changed operating parameters driven by the climate threat. Costs associated
with adaptation options may be minimal.
$$ Some systems can operate beyond design or current capacity without making large changes to the
system. Operations and maintenance costs may increase, but would remain less costly than making
infrastructure changes.
$$$ After the existing system has reached the limit of its capacity to absorb climate impacts, it becomes
necessary to augment or optimize capacity through adoption of new practices and resources. This
typically involves a higher level of capital investment.
How do utilities assess adaptation strategies?
Many options exist to address climate change concerns at utilities. When evaluating a response to climate
change and assessing potential adaptation strategies, there are several significant issues to be considered
such as: deciding which climate information to use, deciding how to incorporate uncertainty and obtaining
a better understanding of system capabilities. Several common approaches used by utilities to assess risk
and deal with uncertainty in decision-making are described below. In addition, tools have been developed
to assess adaptation options in terms of cost and resilience gained (e.g., Climate Resilience Evaluation and
Awareness Tool or GREAT) as utilities pursue the integration of adaptation into overall capital investment and
infrastructure planning.
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Assessment approaches
There are many options available to assess how climate change will impact a utility. Three examples of these
methods are:
Scenario-based or top-down approaches, which use climate change projection data to inform
decision-making. Projections from General Circulation Models (GCMs) are often downscaled to
sub-regional spatial scales (tens of kilometers) for impact assessments. This climate information
may be coupled with other models (e.g., hydrologic or flood) to predict a system response. Risk is
based primarily on the consequences from a damaged or failing system under the scenario being
considered (Freas et al. 2008, Brown 2010).
Decision-scaling or threshold-based approaches, which consider how changes in climate will
impact performance based on the current capacity of systems. These evaluations will produce
thresholds for failure or damage. Risk is gauged based on the likelihood of exceeding thresholds
using GCM projections and consequences from a failing or damaged system (Brown 2010).
Robust decision-making approaches, which apply multiple scenarios derived from GCM
projections to create ensembles of plausible futures. The performance of adaptation options is
considered across these scenarios to identify those options that reduce risk across all or most
scenarios and avoid unacceptable outcomes or worst-case scenarios (Lembert and Groves 2010).
Examples of Assessment Approaches:
Inland Empire Utilities Agency
Southern California's Inland Empire Utilities Agency used robust decision-making to evaluate the impacts
of climate change on long-term urban water management. The goal was to reject any water strategy
that cost more than $3.75 billion. Scenario discovery using 21 climate models and a water management
model concluded that the costs would exceed that figure if three things happened concurrently: large
precipitation declines, large changes in the price of water imports and reductions in the natural percolation
into ground water aquifers. Based on this, a management plan was devised that included: water-use
efficiency, capturing storm water for ground water replenishment, water recycling and importing water
in wet years so ground water can be extracted in dry years. The Agency found that if all these actions were
undertaken, the costs would almost never exceed the $3.75 billion limit (Lembert and Groves 2010).
Sydney Water
Sydney Water (Australia) provides sustainable water, wastewater, recycled water and some stormwater
services to more than four million people in Sydney and surrounding areas. Sydney Water addresses
climatic and weather-related extreme events through an adaptive management approach, embedded in
corporate planning and risk management protocols
Sydney Water has been an early adopter of climate change risk management for its $39 billion worth
(Australian dollars) of infrastructure. Over the last 10 years, the organization has considered the impacts
of future climate on water supply and demand planning. In collaboration with other state agencies,
Sydney Water is addressing the risk of climate impacts by increasing supply diversity including dams, water
recycling, water efficiency and desalination.
In 2013, the organization assessed the impacts of future climate on infrastructure, operations and customers
through a three year Climate Change Adaptation Program. The three objectives of continued on next page
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Examples of Assessment Approaches: (continued)
the program were to (1) understand the business impacts related to climate change, including supply
chain interdependencies with electricity and telecommunications providers; (2) identify current resilience
capabilities to respond to events and (3) cost and prioritize adaptation options for the utility to consider. One
of the key outputs from this program is a climate change adaptation quantification tool, called AdaptWater,
which calculates both the consequences of climate change hazards and the effectiveness of adaptation
options in reducing risk.
Addressing uncertainty and varying capacity to respond at utilities
Because of the great deal of uncertainty surrounding the timing, nature, direction and magnitude of localized
climate impacts, it can be a challenge for utilities to address climate change. In particular, it may be difficult to
balance climate-related action with current obligations, which requires maintaining service affordability while
developing the financial, managerial and technical capacity to meet future needs.
However, this uncertainty should not prevent utilities from taking action now with regards to potential climate
change impacts. For some utilities, it is not an option to wait and see or take no action. In fact, the cost of
inaction may be greatly underestimated and can be offset by taking preventative action today. Building climate
considerations into everyday utility decision making is a current necessity because utility investments are
often capital intensive, long-lived and can require long lead times to ensure system reliability and maintenance
of desired service levels. Flexible or adaptive management strategies provide a structure for implementing
adaptation options for future operations despite these uncertainties and differing capacities.
How can utility laboratories adapt to climate change impacts?
Many projected climate impacts can alter drinking water quality and quantity, which could have
implications for environmental and public health laboratories in addition to the utilities themselves.
Climate model projections indicate that the frequency and severity of extreme events will increase in
many regions of the U.S., including intense precipitation events, prolonged droughts and wildfires. More
frequent and more intense flooding events can result in increased sedimentation, turbidity and pollution
inputs. Increased surface water temperatures can lead to an increased frequency of algal blooms.
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers due to sea-level rise could potentially introduce non-indigenous biological
contaminants into water sources. These impacts may challenge laboratories with increased demand for
sampling and potential analytical matrix interference issues.
For example, following heavy flooding in Colorado in September 2013, the Colorado Department of Public
Health and Environment (CDPHE) was faced with an increased number of samples that required analysis
with limited testing supplies to provide to field teams. CDPHE was able to prepare and distribute 40 smaller
sampling kits from available supplies to collect flood water samples in the affected area. Volunteers were
used to analyze the increased number of samples, and 95% of the data was reported within three working
days of the request from the Governor of Colorado.
Extreme flooding events similar to the event in Colorado are projected to occur more frequently due to
climate change impacts. Therefore it is important for laboratories supporting water utilities to understand
projected climate change impacts and how to adapt to them, increasing their climate continued on next page
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Examples of Assessment Approaches: (continued)
readiness in the future. The table below contains example adaptation options for environmental and
public health laboratories. For more informatior^on how climate change can impact laboratories, review
the Water Quality Degradation Group Briefs.,
ADAPTATION OPTIONS FOR WATER LABORATORIES
Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity and
matrix interference) and costs of resultant changes in treatment.
Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
Participate in Water Laboratory Alliance (WLA)-\ed exercises (i.e., full-scale exercises,
tabletop exercises, live tabletop exercise webcasts) and WLA Security Summits to gain insight
into emergency response best practices and lessons learned.
Develop emergency response plans and utilize the WLA Continuity of Operations (COOP)
Plan Template to create standard operating procedures in advance of potential natural
disasters.
Improve sample throughput to address surge capacity requirements from increased
sampling and analysis needs associated with natural disasters.
Facilitate development of emergency response field kits with detailed sampling and shipping
instructions that can be strategically placed in advance, or quickly dispatched, throughout a
state or distribution system.
Establish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support
operations in case of loss of power.
COST
$
$$
$$
$-$$
Taking Action
When considering which climate-related actions to take now, it is important that utilities develop an
understanding of all of the potential benefits of implementing adaptation options beyond increased overall
resilience (Danilenko et al. 2010, UKCIP 2011). For example, many options may provide benefits under both
current climate conditions and potential future climate conditions.These options are often described as No
Regrets options. As used in this Guide, No Regrets describes those adaptation options that provide benefits
regardless of future climate conditions. These options would increase resilience to the potential impacts of
climate change while yielding other, more immediate economic, environmental or social benefits (WUCA 2010,
FAO 2011). However, No Regrets does not mean cost-free; these options still have real or opportunity costs or
represent trade-offs that should be considered by utility owners and operators^Wilby 2008, Heltberg et al. 2009).
Within the briefs, No Regrets adaptation options are identified with this icon, \
Only implementing No Regrets options at a utility may not be enough to build resilience against climate impacts.
Other types of actions include those that provide benefits particularly if climate projections become reality (low-
regrets or climate-justified) as well as actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide co-benefits (i.e.,
energy efficiency, optimization and reduced operating costs).
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Example of Utilizing No Regrets Options:
The Tualatin Valley Water District (TVWD) provides an average of 23 million gallons of water per day
to more than 200,000 customers in Beaverton, Hillsboro and Tigard, Oregon. Many other stressors, in
addition to climate change, present potential risks and uncertainties as related to future water supply
and water quality issues. Recognizing this and the uncertainty in climate change projections, TVWD has
developed plans that employ No Regrets strategies focused on building a more resilient regional water
supply. Actions being pursued include data collection, diversifying supply sources, investigating water
system interties and engaging customers in extensive conservation efforts.
As part of its overall strategy, TVWD collaborates with other utilities in the region through the area's
Regional Water Providers Consortium (RWPC). The RWPCStrategic Plan identifies the need to encourage
partnerships between providers and facilitate and support reliable back-up water supplies for all water
providers should any source or transmission facilities become unavailable due to an emergency or natural
disaster. Efforts thus far have produced an ArcGIS geodatabase of all existing water system facilities within
the region, including existing water system interconnections and a pipe network overlay. As a result of this
collaboration, TVWD has identified strategic regional interties and plans to diversify sources by identifying
alternate surface water supplies and further evaluating aquifer storage and recovery.
TVWD first established an effective conservation program in 1993. The program has been very successful,
and District customers recently reduced water usage from 2005 to 2011 by 13% (in gallons per capita
per day), more than doubling its 0.8% per year goal. Admittedly, other factors likely contributed to the
reduction, but conservation goals were met primarily through a combination of rebates, free water-
efficient hardware, consultations, technical assistance to large water users and outreach to customers.
TVWD works to mitigate any negative operational, environmental and societal effects through its
Sustainability Program, which provides leadership, education, analysis, project management and
accountability for the District's sustainability efforts. Key objectives in pursuing sustainability include
reducing TVWD's carbon footprint without compromising customer service, enhancing understanding
of customer water usage and demand, generating on-site solar energy and maintaining stewardship of
assets. TVWD is using a proactive adaptive management approach to continue meeting its sustainability
and resiliency goals. TVWD collects and analyzes utility and regional data on a regular basis in order to
ensure the District can meet future time demands and reliability concerns. As new information becomes
available, water planning decisions are reassessed and modified.
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Where can utilities find more information on adaptation planning and other
Climate Ready Water Utilities activities?
Adaptation options found in this Guide provide the building blocks for utility adaptation strategies. Further
consideration of these options is required, as described above in the adaptation planning section. See the links
below for supporting information on available products and resources available to support adaptation planning.
Supporting Information on EPA Initiatives and Products
EPACRWU
GREAT
EPA Green
Infrastructure
CRWUARF
EPA
Sustainability
WaterSense
Example Technical and Informational Resources to Support Assessments
NOAA
Flood Watch
Data
US Global Bias Corrected &
Change Research I Downscaled WCRP CMIP3 &
Program I CMIP5 Climate Projections
EPA BASINS
Climate
Assessment Tool
How does a utility get started?
This Guide includes a collection of briefs (see below) that provide summaries of climate change projections,
descriptions of specific climate impacts that water utilities may experience and descriptions of suggested
adaptation options to address these impacts - with their relative costs. The briefs provide the user with
comprehensive information on climate change impacts and adaptation planning. Alternatively, each brief
can also be considered a stand-alone resource.
Climate Region BriefsNational
and regional descriptions of climate
change projections are provided in the
Climate Region Briefs. The material in
these briefs is drawn from the most
recent U.S. Global Change Research
Program assessment (2014).These briefs
provide an overview of climate change
projections in each region, along with
associated impacts drinking water and
wastewater utilities will face. Clicking on
a region will bring you to that particular
Climate Region Brief.
LINKS TO CLIMATE REGION BRIEFS
Northwest
Southwest
Alaska
Southeast
Pacific Islands
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Croup and Strategy BriefsSummaries of general impacts that drinking water and wastewater utilities
may face are contained in the Group Briefs, which can be accessed by clicking on an impact group in
the table below. These briefs contain a comprehensive list of adaptation options to address a group of
similar potential impacts.
LINKS TO STRATEGY BRIEFS
Sustainability Briefs
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs & energy
needs of utilities
Click on a group name or icon above to read more about these climate impacts or click on a water drop
above to read more about a specific impact. Click on a Sustainable Strategy icon to read more about energy
management, green infrastructure or water demand management strategies.
The Group Briefs also include links to the more specific Strategy Briefs that provide more detailed
information on potential climate change-related impacts for drinking water, wastewater and
stormwater utilities. Each Strategy Brief provides general climate information related to the projected
impact, options for adaptation strategies to address them, relative cost information and examples
describing how a specific utility has implemented at least one of the options listed. Clicking on a
water drop (4) in the table above will bring you to that Strategy Brief. Most briefs apply to either
drinking water (DW) or wastewater and stormwater (WW) utilities. In the case of the ecosystem-
related impacts and energy sector needs, briefs apply to DW and WW together. Clicking on the
energy management (EM), green infrastructure (Gl) or water demand management (WDM) icons in
the Sustainability Briefs columns will bring you to those respective briefs. From anywhere in the
Guide, you can also return to a previously-viewed page by pressing the ALT key with the left
arrow key.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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This glossary provides additional explanation of the adaptation options listed in the strategy briefs provided
in this Guide. Each option includes general descriptions of actions that may be taken or clarification of
terminology. Pursuit of many of these options may require collaboration with other utilities, local or federal
government agencies, other sectors (e.g., energy and agriculture) and the academic community.The options
are grouped into categories of similar adaptation strategies, including:
Ecosystem &
Land I
Planning
Modeling
Repair &
Retrofit
Monitor!
System & Energy
Efficiency
New
Construction
Water Demand
&Use
Each option description includes a measure of relative cost, from $ to $$$ (see Page 8 in the Introduction for a
description of this scale).
No Regrets options are marked with this icon. These adaptation options provide benefits regardless of
future climate conditions and would increase resilience to the potential impacts of climate change while
yielding other, more immediate, economic, environmental or social benefits (WUCA2010; FAO2011).
ECOSYSTEM & LAND USE
Acquire and manage ecosystems ($$$)-lntact natural ecosystems have many benefits for utilities:
reducing sediment and nutrient inputs into source water bodies, regulating runoff and streamflow,
buffering against flooding and reducing storm surge impacts and inundation on the coasts (e.g.,
mangroves, saltwater marshes, wetlands). Utilities can also work with regional floodplain managers
and appropriate stakeholders to explore non-structural flood management techniques in the
watershed. Protecting, acquiring and managing ecosystems in buffer zones along rivers, lakes,
reservoirs and coasts can be cost-effective measures for flood control and water quality management.
Implement green infrastructure on site and in municipalities ($-$$$)-Green infrastructure can help
reduce runoff and stormwater flows that may otherwise exceed system capacity. Examples of green
infrastructure include: bio-retention areas (rain gardens), low impact development methods, green
roofs, swales (depressions to capture water) and the use of vegetation or pervious materials instead of
impervious surfaces.
Implement watershed management ($$)-Watershed management includes a range of policy
and technical measures. These generally focus on preserving or restoring vegetated land cover in a
watershed and managing stormwater runoff.These changes help mimic natural watershed hydrology,
increasing groundwater recharge, reducing runoff and improving the quality of runoff.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES GLOSSARY
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Integrate flood management and modeling into land use planning ($)-lt is critical that future water
utility infrastructure be planned and built in consideration of future flood risks. Infrastructure can be
built in areas that do not have a high risk of future flooding. Alternately, appropriate flood management
plans can be implemented that involve'soft'adaptation measures such as conserving natural
ecosystems or'hard'measures such as dikes and flood walls.
Study response of nearby wetlands to storm surge events ($)-Coastal wetlands act as buffers to
storm surge. Protecting and understanding the ability of existing wetlands to provide protection
for coastal infrastructure in the future is important considering projected sea-level rise and possible
changes in storm severity.
Update fire models and practice fire management plans ($-$$)-Fire frequency and severity may
change in the future, therefore it is important to develop, practice and regularly update management
plans to reduce fire risk. Controlled burns, thinning and weed and invasive plant control help to reduce
risk in wildfire-prone areas.
MODELING
Conduct extreme precipitation events analyses ($-$$)-An increase in the magnitude or frequency
of extreme events can severely challenge water utility systems that were not designed to withstand
intense events. Extreme event analyses or modeling can help develop a better understanding of the
risks and consequences associated with these types of events.
Conduct sea-level rise and storm surge modeling ($)-Modeling sea-level rise and storm surge
dynamics will better inform the placement and protection of critical infrastructure. Generic models
have been developed to consider subsidence, global sea-level rise and storm surge effects on
inundation, including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) SLOSH (Sea, Lake
and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) Model and The Nature Conservancy's Coastal Resilience Tool,
amongst others.
Develop models to understand potential water quality changes ($-$$$)-ln many areas, increased
water temperatures will cause eutrophication and excess algal growth, which will reduce drinking
water quality. The quality of drinking water sources may also be compromised by increased sediment or
nutrient inputs due to extreme storm events.These impacts may be addressed with targeted watershed
management plans.
Model and monitor groundwater conditions ($)-Understanding and modeling groundwater
conditions will inform aquifer management and projected water quantity and quality changes.
Monitoring data for aquifer water level, changes in chemistry and detection of saltwater intrusion
can be incorporated into models to predict future supply. Climate change may lead to diminished
groundwater recharge in some areas because of reduced precipitation and decreased runoff.
Model and reduce inflow/infiltration in the sewer system ($-$$$)-More extreme storm events
will increase the amount of wet weather infiltration and inflow into sanitary and combined sewers.
Sewer models can estimate the impact of those increased wet weather flows on wastewater collection
system and treatment plant capacity and operations. Potential system modifications to reduce those
impacts include infiltration reduction measures, additional collection system capacity, offline storage or
additional peak wet weather treatment capacity.
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Use hydrologic models to project runoff and future water supply ($)-ln order to understand
how climate change may impact future water supply and water quality, hydrologic models, coupled
with projections from climate models, must be developed. It is important to work towards an
understanding of how both the mean and temporal (seasonal) distribution of surface water flows may
change. Groundwater recharge, snowpack and the timing of snowmelt are critical areas that maybe
severely impacted by climate change and should be incorporated into the analysis.
MONITORING
Conduct stress testing on wastewater treatment biological systems to assess tolerance to heat
($$)-lncreased surface water temperature may require changes to wastewater treatment systems, as
microbial species used may react differently in warmer environments. Stress testing involves subjecting
biological systems or bench-top simulations of systems to elevated temperatures and monitoring the
impacts on treatment processes.
Manage reservoir water quality ($$)-Changes in precipitation and runoff timing, coupled with
higher temperatures due to climate change, may lead to diminished reservoir water quality. Reservoir
water quality can be maintained or improved by a combination of watershed management, to reduce
pollutant runoff and promote groundwater recharge and reservoir management methods, such as lake
aeration.
Monitor and inspect the integrity of existing infrastructure ($-$$)-Monitoring is a critical
component of establishing a measure of current conditions, detecting deterioration in physical assets
and evaluating when the necessary adjustments need to be made to prolong infrastructure lifespan.
Monitor current weather conditions ($)-A better understanding of weather conditions provides
a utility with the ability to recognize possible changes in climate change and then identify the
subsequent need to alter current operations to ensure resilient supply and services. Observations
of precipitation, temperature and storm events are particularly important for improving models of
projected water quality and quantity.
Monitor flood events and drivers ($)-Understanding and modeling the conditions that result in
flooding is an important part of projecting how climate change may drive change in future flood
occurrence. Monitoring data for sea level, precipitation, temperature and runoff can be incorporated
into flood models to improve predictions. Current flood magnitude and frequency of storm events
represents a baseline for considering potential future flood conditions.
Monitor surface water conditions ($)-Understanding surface water conditions and the factors
that alter quantity and quality is an important part of projecting how climate change may impact
water resources. Monitoring data for discharge, snowmelt, reservoir or stream level, upstream runoff,
streamflow, in-stream temperature and overall water quality can be incorporated into models of
projected supply or receiving water quality.
Monitor vegetation changes in watersheds ($)-Changes in vegetation alter the runoff that enters
surface water bodies and the risk of wildfire to facilities within the watershed. Monitoring vegetation
changes can be conducted by ground cover surveys, aerial photography or by relying on the research
from local conservation groups and universities.
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NEW CONSTRUCTION
Build flood barriers to protect infrastructure ($$-$$$)-Flood barriers to protect critical infrastructure
include levees, dikes and seawalls. A related strategy is flood proofing, which involves elevating critical
equipment or placing it within waterproof containers or foundation systems.
Build infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery ($$$)-lncreasing the amount of
groundwater storage available promotes recharge when surface water flows are in excess of demand,
thus increasing climate resilience for seasonal or extended periods of drought, and taking advantage of
seasonal variations in surface water runoff. Depending on whether natural or artificial aquifer recharge
is employed, the required infrastructure may include percolation basins and injection wells.
Diversify options for water supply and expand current sources ($$-$$$)-Diversifying sources helps
to reduce the risk that water supply will fall below water demand. Examples of diversified source water
portfolios include using a varying mix of surface water and groundwater, employing desalination when
the need arises and establishing water trading with other utilities in times of water shortages or service
disruption.
Increase water storage capacity ($$-$$$)-lncreased drought can reduce the safe yield of reservoirs.
To reduce this risk, increases in available storage can be made. Methods for accomplishing this may
include raising a dam, practicing aquifer storage and recovery, removing accumulated sediment in
reservoirs or lowering water intake elevation.
Install low-head dam for saltwater wedge and freshwater pool separation ($$$)-Rising sea levels,
combined with reductions in freshwater runoff due to drought, will cause the salt water-freshwater
boundary to move further upstream in tidal estuaries. Upstream shifts of this boundary can reduce
the water quality of surface water resources. Installation of low-head dams across tidal estuaries can
prevent this upstream movement.
Plan and establish alternative or on-site power supply ($-$$)-Water utilities are one of the major
consumers of electricity in the United States. With future electricity demand forecasted to grow,
localized energy shortages may occur. The development of "off-grid"sources can be a good hedging
strategy for electricity shortfalls. Moreover, redundant power supply can provide resiliency for
situations in which natural disasters cause power outages. On-site sources can include solar, wind,
inline microturbines and biogas (i.e., methane from wastewater treatment). New and back-up electrical
equipment should be located above potential flood levels.
Relocate facilities to higher elevations ($$$)-Relocating utility infrastructure, such as treatment
plants and pump stations, to higher elevations would reduce risks from coastal flooding and exposure
as a result of coastal erosion or wetland loss.
PLANNING
Adopt insurance mechanisms and other financial instruments (S)-Adequate insurance can insulate
utilities from financial losses due to extreme weather events, helping to maintain financial sustainability
of utility operations.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES GLOSSARY Page 26
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Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
GLOSSARY
Return to Introduction
Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training ($)-An important step in developing an
adaptation program is educating staff on climate change. Staff should have a basic understanding of
the projected range of changes in temperature and precipitation, the increase in the frequency and
magnitude of extreme weather events for their region and how these changes may affect the utility's
assets and operations. Preparedness from this training can improve utility management under current
climate conditions as well.
Develop coastal restoration plans ($-$$)-Coastal restoration plans may protect water utility
infrastructure from damaging storm surge by increasing protective habitat of coastal ecosystems
such as mangroves and wetlands. Restoration plans should consider the impacts of sea-level rise
and development on future ecosystem distribution. Successful strategies may also consider rolling
easements and other measures identified by EPA's Climate Ready Estuaries program.
Develop emergency response plans ($)-Emergency response plans (ERPs) outline activities and
procedures for utilities to follow in case of an incident, from preparation to recovery. Some of the
extreme events considered in ERPs may change in their frequency or magnitude due to changes in
climate, which may require making changes to these plans to capture a wider range of possible events.
Develop energy management plans for key facilities ($)-Energy management plans identify the
most critical systems in a facility, provide backup power sources for those systems and evaluate options
to reduce power consumption by upgrading to more efficient equipment. Utilities may develop plans
to produce energy, reduce use and work toward net-zero goals.
Establish mutual aid agreements with neighboring utilities ($)-Beyond the establishment of water
trading in times of water shortages or service disruptions, these agreements involve the sharing of
personnel and resources in times of emergency (e.g., natural disasters).
Identify and protect vulnerable facilities ($-$$)-Operational measures to isolate and protect the
most vulnerable systems or assets at a utility should be considered. For example, critical pump stations
would include those serving a large population and those located in a flood zone. Protection of these
assets would then be prioritized based on the likelihood of flood damage and the consequence of
service disruption.
Integrate climate-related risks into capital improvement plans ($)-Plans to build or expand
infrastructure should consider the vulnerability of the proposed locations to inland flooding, sea-level
rise, storm surge and other impacts associated with climate change.
Participate in community planning and regional collaborations ($-$$)-Effective adaptation
planning requires the cooperation and involvement of the community. Water utilities will benefit by
engaging in climate change planning efforts with local and regional governments, electric utilities and
other local organizations.
Update drought contingency plans ($)-Drought leads to severe pressures on water supply. Drought
contingency plans would include the use of alternate water supplies and the adoption of water use
restrictions for households, businesses and other water users. These plans should be updated regularly
to remain consistent with current operations and assets.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES GLOSSARY Page 27
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Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
GLOSSARY
Return to Introduction
REPAIR & RETROFIT
Implement policies and procedures for post-flood and/or post-fire repairs (S)-Post-disaster policies
should minimize service disruption due to damaged infrastructure. These contingency plans should be
incorporated into other planning efforts and updated regularly to remain consistent with any changes
in utility services or assets.
Implement saltwater intrusion barriers and aquifer recharge ($$$)-As sea level rises, saltwater may
intrude into coastal aquifers, resulting in substantially higher treatment costs. The injection of fresh
water into aquifers can help to act as a barrier, while intrusion recharges groundwater resources.
Improve pumps for backflow prevention ($$)-Sea-level rise and coastal storm surge can cause
wastewater outlets to backflow. To prevent this, stronger pumps may be necessary.
Increase capacity for wastewater and stormwater collection and treatment ($$$)-Precipitation
variability will increase in many areas. Even in areas where precipitation and runoff may decrease on
average, the distribution of rainfall patterns (i.e., intensity and duration) can change in ways that impact
water infrastructure. In particular, more extreme storms may overwhelm combined wastewater and
stormwater systems.
Increase treatment capabilities ($$$)-Existing water treatment systems may be inadequate
to process water of significantly reduced quality. Significant improvement to existing treatment
processes or implementation of additional treatment technologies may be necessary to ensure that
quality of water supply (or effluent) continues to meet standards as climate change impacts source or
receiving water quality.
Install effluent cooling systems ($-$$)-Higher surface temperatures may make meeting water quality
standards and temperature criteria more difficult. Therefore, to reduce the temperature of treated
wastewater discharges, additional effluent cooling systems may be needed.
Retrofit intakes to accommodate lower flow or water levels ($$-$$$)-ln areas where streamflow
declines due to climate change, water levels may fall below intakes for water treatment plants.
SYSTEM & ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water ($$-$$$)-Recycling greywater frees up more finished
water for other uses, expanding supply and decreasing the need to discharge into receiving waters.
Receiving water quality limitations may increase due to more frequent droughts. Therefore, to limit
wastewater discharges, use of reclaimed water in homes and businesses should be encouraged.
Improve energy efficiency and optimization of operations ($-$$$)-Water utilities are one of the
major consumers of electricity in the United States. With future electricity demand forecasted to grow,
localized energy shortages may be experienced. Energy efficiency measures will save in energy costs
and make utilities less vulnerable to electricity shortfalls due to high demand or service disruptions
from natural disasters.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES GLOSSARY Page 28
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Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
GLOSSARY
Return to Introduction
Practice conjunctive use ($$-$$$)-Conjunctive use involves the coordinated, optimal use of both
surface water and groundwater, both intra- and inter-annually. Aquifer storage and recovery is a form
of conjunctive use. For example, a utility may store some fraction of surface water flows in aquifers
during wet years and withdraw this water during dry years when the river flow is low. Depending
on whether natural or artificial aquifer recharge is employed, the required infrastructure may include
percolation basins and injection wells.
WATER DEMAND & USE
Encourage and support practices to reduce water use at local power plants ($-$$$)-The electricity
sector withdraws the greatest amount of water in the United States, compared with other sectors. Any
efforts to reduce water usage by utilities (e.g., closed-loop water circulation systems or dry cooling for
the turbines) will increase available water supply. For example, utilities may provide reclaimed water to
electric utilities for electricity generation.
Model and reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand ($-$$$)-Agriculture represents the
second largest user of water in the United States in terms of withdrawals. In order to forecast and
plan for future water supply needs, agricultural (irrigation) demand must be projected, particularly in
drought-prone areas. For example, to reduce agricultural water demand, utilities can work with farmers
to adopt advanced micro-irrigation technology (e.g., drip irrigation).
Model future regional electricity demand ($)-The electricity sector represents the largest user of
water in the United States in terms of withdrawals. In order to forecast future water supply needs,
changes in electricity demand related to climate change must be projected.
Practice water conservation and demand management ($-$$)-An effective and low-cost method
of meeting increased water supply needs is to implement water conservation programs that will cut
down on waste and inefficiencies. Public outreach is an essential component of any water conservation
program. Outreach communications typically include: basic information on household water usage,
the best time of day to undertake water-intensive activities and information on and access to water-
efficient household appliances such as low-flow toilets, showerheads and front-loading washers.
Education and outreach can also be targeted to different sectors (i.e., commercial, institutional,
industrial, public sectors). Effective conservation programs in the community include those that
provide rebates or help install water meters, water-conserving appliances, toilets and rainwater
harvesting tanks.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES GLOSSARY Page 29
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
WORKSHEET FOR ADAPTATION PLANNING
This adaptation planning worksheet is provided to help identify and organize adaptation options of interest.
Either (1) print this worksheet and fill in the fields by hand while browsing through the Guide or (2) type in
the fields electronically and make sure to print or save this worksheet before closing the Guide.There is a
completed sample version for your reference following this worksheet.
Contact and Utility Information
Name
Phone
Email
Utility Name
Utility Type DW
Climate Region
WW
SW
Coasts
Climate-Related Impacts
Review the briefs for your climate region and select those that are of concern to your utility.
Drought Ecosystem Changes
O Reduced groundwater recharge Q Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
O Lower lake & reservoir levels Q Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Q Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack Service Demand & Use
Water Quality Degradation Q Volume & temperature challenges
O Low flow conditions & altered water quality Q Changes in agricultural water demand
O Saltwater intrusion into aquifers Q Changes in energy sector needs
O Altered surface water quality Q Changes in energy needs of utilities
Floods Sustainability
O High flow events & flooding Q Energy management
O Flooding from coastal storm surges Q Green infrastructure
Q Water demand management
List the critical threshold conditions (e.g., specific flood heights, drought durations and peak influent volumes
that exceed your current operating capacity) that may result in damage or loss to your assets and water
resources. For example, if your previous experience indicates that a daily rainfall total of 3 inches would flood
critical pump stations, then document this type of event as a threshold to consider during adaptation planning.
Note specific utility assets and water resources where any damage or loss would impair meeting your
utility's mission.
Page 31
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Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
WORKSHEET
Review the briefs for selected climate impacts and note the adaptation options that you would consider
implementing to reduce the consequences of climate change at your utility.
Review the Sustainability Briefs and their individual sustainable practiceslist any practices that
complement or overlap with options you noted above.
Communication with other utilitieswhat climate change-related actions have other drinking water
and wastewater utilities in your area taken?
Adaptation Implementation Planning
Note any potential barriers to implementation, collaborators, performance metrics and any other relevant
planning details.
Planning priorities (select)
Q Timing of action O Sustainability I I Available funding
Q Vulnerability assessment Q Energy savings I I Other:
O Assets impacted O Cost savings
Use the information documented in this worksheet as a preliminary step in the adaptation planning
process. As you continue to monitor conditions and begin implementing adaptation options, revisit the
Guide and revise this worksheet accordingly to inform future planning efforts.
Page 32
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
United States
Environments, Protection
Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
WORKSHEET FOR ADAPTATION PLANNING SAMPLE
This adaptation planning worksheet is provided to help identify and organize adaptation options of interest.
Either (1) print this worksheet and fill in the fields by hand while browsing through the Guide or (2) type in the
fields electronically and make sure to print or save this worksheet before closing the Guide.
Contact and Utility Information
Name Dan Frialini
Phone 708-555-1212
Email dfrialini@bcwu.org
Utility Name
Big Creek Water Utility
Utility Type DW \m\ WW 0
Climate Region Midwest (IL)
SW
Coasts
Climate-Related Impacts
Review the briefs for your climate region and select those that are of concern to your utility.
Drought
Q Reduced groundwater recharge
[] Lower lake & reservoir levels
Q Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack
Water Quality Degradation
Q Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Q Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
[] Altered surface water quality
Floods
[] High flow events & flooding
O Flooding from coastal storm surges
Ecosystem Changes
Q Loss of coastal landforms/ wetlands
[] Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Service Demand & Use
Q Volume & temperature challenges
Q Changes in agricultural water demand
O Changes in energy sector needs
[] Changes in energy needs of utilities
Sustainability
\m\ Energy management
[] Green infrastructure
[] Water demand management
List the critical threshold conditions (e.g., specific flood heights, drought durations and peak influent volumes
that exceed your current operating capacity) that may result in damage or loss to your assets and water
resources. For example, if your previous experience indicates that a daily rainfall total of 3 inches would flood
critical pump stations, then document this type of event as a threshold to consider during adaptation planning.
* 100-year flood would damage storage tanks
* Creek level drops below current intake would restrict supply
* 50% extent of forest loss from fire would lead to increased erosion from forest into Big Creek
* Water demand reduction target of 15% per capita in 10 years to accommodate population growth
* Targeting reduction in energy use (25%) and net greenhouse gas emissions (50%) in 10 years
Note specific utility assets and water resources where any damage or loss would impair meeting your
utility's mission.
Storage tanks: past algal blooms have contaminated tanks and storm-related flood damage
Watershed: fires lead to increases in sediment and nutrient runoff into source waters
Treatment plants: energy costs and recent power outages led to efforts to reduce energy needs and increase on-
site generation
Page 33
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Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
WORKSHEET
Review the briefs for selected climate impacts and note the adaptation options that you would consider
implementing to reduce the consequences of climate change at your utility.
Already in place: climate change training for personnel / flood models and temporary flood barrier / weather
monitoring and demand reduction and modeling efforts.
To evaluate: new levee, wetlands for flood protection, green infrastructure in the community, collaborative
land-use planning project, wildfire surveillance, improved supply-demand models, increased storage and
watershed management strategies.
Review the Sustainability Briefs and their individual sustainable practiceslist any practices that
complement or overlap with options you noted above.
Already in place: energy management plans, water conservation plans and outreach and community rain
gardens and downspout disconnect incentive programs.
To evaluate: runoff control buffers in fire-prone areas, additional stormwater retention projects, energy and
heat recovery practices, cogeneration project and upgrade to more fuel-efficient vehicle fleet.
Communication with other utilitieswhat climate change-related actions have other drinking water
and wastewater utilities in your area taken?
Other Midwestern utilities have been successful in using wildfire surveillance in cooperation with
U.S. Forest Service to limit losses. Representatives planning to attend upcoming utility management
conference and joining city-wide flood preparedness task force. Negotiating partnership with local power
supplier to facilitate on-site generation and combined public outreach campaign for water and power
conservation.
Adaptation Implementation Planning
Note any potential barriers to implementation, collaborators, performance metrics and any other relevant
planning details.
Budget available for next decade / limited space for expansion of facilities / potential for relocation of
facilities unknown. Watershed for Big Creek, including Big Creek Forest, and paper mill. Watershed managers
heard about the ongoing BCWU climate assessment and wanted to know if the utility was seeking input or
collaboration opportunities. Others include regional assessment team, City of Cicero, City of Chicago and Big
Creek Defenders (local advocacy group).
Planning priorities (select)
[] Timing of action \m\ Sustainability [] Available funding
Q Vulnerability assessment \m\ Energy savings I I Other:
[] Assets impacted O Cost savings
Use the information documented in this worksheet as a preliminary step in the adaptation planning
process. As you continue to monitor conditions and begin implementing adaptation options, revisit the
Guide and revise this worksheet accordingly to inform future planning efforts.
Page 34
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SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
.WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
Climate Region Brief > NATIONAL
Return to Introduction
Climate change in the United States is projected to continue to follow already observable trends.Temperature
rise, shifts in precipitation patterns and timing, and altered hydrologic cycles can be expected due to climate
change. The following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research Program assessments (USGCRP
2009, USGCRP 2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end of the 21st century- using
both high and low emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
GROUP
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
DW WW
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
U.S. average temperature has increased
by about 1.3 to 1.9ฐF since 1895, with
most of this increase occurring since
1970. In the next few decades, warming
is projected to be roughly 2-4ฐF in most
areas. The 2000-2010 decade was the
nation's warmest on record.
Many types of extreme weather events,
such as heat waves and regional
droughts, have become more frequent
and intense during the past 40 to 50
years. Droughts in the Southwest and
heat waves everywhere are expected to
become more intense in the future.
Reduced snowpack, reductions in lake ice
cover, earlier breakup of ice on lakes and
rivers and earlier spring snowmelt have
all resulted in earlier peak river flows.
Cold-season storm tracks are
shifting northward due to increasing
temperatures, and the strongest storms
are likely to become stronger and more frequent.
The intensity, frequency and duration of North American hurricanes has increased in recent decades, and the
intensity of these storms is likely to increase in this century (USGCRP 2014).
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or click on a
water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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WATER UTILITIES Climate Region Brief > NATIONAL
page 2 of 2
The number of days with a maximum temperature of
more than 95ฐF and number of consecutive hot days
is expected to increase. For example, in 2011, cities
including Houston, Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City and
Wichita, among others, all set records for the highest
number of days recording temperatures of 100ฐF or
higher in those cities'recorded history. In the figure to
the right, the circles denote the location of observing
stations used in the analysis and the number of recorded
100ฐF days (NCDC 2012, USGCRP 2014).
Days Above 100ฐF in Summer 2011
10-24
25-39 40-54
C=l CZI
Number of Days
55-69
>70
Percentage Change in Very Heavy Precipitation (1958-2012)
Throughout the U.S., average annual precipitation
has increased by about 5% since 1900. Additionally,
the amount of rain falling in the heaviest downpours
has increased over the past few decades, with increases
of more than 30% in the Northeast, Midwest and Great
Plains. This trend is very likely to continue, with the
largest increases in the wettest places. The figure to
the left shows the percentage increases in the average
number of days with very heavy precipitation (defined
as the heaviest 1 % of all events) from 1958 to 2012 for
each region.There are clear trends toward more very
heavy precipitation days for the nation as a whole
(USGCRP 2014).
Change (%)
10-19 20-29 30-39
Sea level has risen along most of the coast over the
last 50 years, and will rise more in the future. Sea
level is projected to rise another 1 to 4 feet by 2100,
but is not expected to rise uniformly along all coastlines.
Regional differences in sea-level rise along U.S. coastlines
are illustrated in the map to the right using data from
EPA's Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool
(CREAT).These projections illustrate projected sea-level
rise for a scenario with moderate ice melt for 2060.
The figure to the right shows that sea level is expected
to rise on the Atlantic coast more rapidly than on the
Pacific coast. Rising sea level threatens low lying coastal
infrastructure and has the potential to exacerbate salt
water intrusion of coastal aquifers. Note: These values do
not account for subsidence or uplift.
Projected Change in Sea-Level Rise for 2060
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
-------
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Northeast
CLIMATE READY
.WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
Climate Region Brief > NORTHEAST
Return to Introduction
Climate change in the northeastern United States is projected to continue to follow already observable trends.
Temperature rise, shifts in precipitation patterns and timing, and altered hydrologic cycles can be expected due
to climate change.The following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research Program assessments
(USGCRP 2009, USGCRP 2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end of the 21st century -
using both high and low emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
Less winter precipitation falling as snow
and more as rain is projected. Reduced
snowpack, earlier breakup of winter ice
on lakes and rivers and earlier spring
snowmelt resulting in earlier peak river
flows are anticipated.
Winters in the Northeast are projected to
have increased precipitation and be much
shorter, with a projected 20-23 fewer days
below freezing.
Short-term droughts (e.g., those lasting
from 1 to 3 months) are projected to
occur as frequently as once each summer
in the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains
and across the New England states.
Sea level in this region is projected to
rise at a rate greater than the global
average, between 1 to 4 feet by 2100.
Severe flooding due to sea-level rise and
heavy downpours are likely to occur more
frequently (Parris et al. 2012).
GROUP
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
DW WW
4
4
44
4
4
44
44
44
44
4
4
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or click on a
water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
OO = Particularly relevant to Northeast O = Somewhat relevant
Increases in the extent and frequency of storm surge and coastal flooding would increase erosion, property damage
and loss of wetlands.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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SEPA
WATER UTILITIES Climate Region Brief > NORTHEAST
page 2 of 2
Much of the southern portion of the region
is projected to experience more than 60
additional days per year above 90ฐF by the
2050s. The figure to the right shows model
projections of the increased number of summer
days with temperatures above 90ฐF between
2041-2070, compared to 1970-2000, using a
higher emissions scenario (NOAA NCDC/CICS-NC,
USGCRP2014).
Projected Increase in the Number of Days over 90ฐF
0 5 to 15 20
40 5O 60 If!
Projected Change in Intense Precipitation
(1-in-100 Year Storm) for 2060
The amount of rain falling in the heaviest downpours has been
increasing, and this trend is projected to continue. Between
1958 and 2010, the Northeast saw more than a 70% increase
in the average number of days with very heavy precipitation
(Groisman et al. 2013). Projected changes in intense precipitation
in the Northeast could have significant impacts for drinking water
and wastewater utilities (e.g., facility inundation and resulting
infrastructure damage, increase in combined sewer overflows,
increased pollutant and sediment loading).The figure to the left
shows projected changes in the magnitude of the 1 -in-100 year
storm from current conditions using data from EPA's Climate
Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (GREAT) for 2060. In most
of the Northeast, the magnitude of these events is projected to
increase anywhere from 4 to 20%.
Simulated Change in Seasonal Mean Precipitation
(A2 Scenario, 2041-2070 minus 1980-2000)
Annual mean precipitation is projected to increase;
however, seasonal differences are expected. As
shown in the figure to the right, seasonal projections
indicate that average precipitation will increase in the
winter and spring for the entire Northeast, will increase
for most of the Northeast in the fall and will decrease in
general during the summer. The projections shown are
for 2041 -2070 under a higher emissions scenario (A2)
(Kunkeletal.2013).
WINTER
SPRING
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
.WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
the Caribbean
Climate Region Brief > SOUTHEAST &THE CARIBBEAN
Return to Introduction
Climate change in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean is projected to continue to follow already
observable trends.Temperature rise, shifts in precipitation patterns and timing and altered hydrologic cycles
can be expected due to climate change.The following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research
Program assessments (USGCRP 2009, USGCRP 2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end
of the 21st century- using both high and low emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
Average annual temperatures are expected to increase
between 4 to 8ฐF in the region by 2100, with projected
temperature increases for the interior states of this region
being 1 to 2ฐF higher than the coastal regions. Projected
temperature increases for Puerto Rico are 2 to 5ฐF by 2100
(Kunkeletal.2013).
The frequency, duration and intensity of droughts are likely
to continue to increase, leading to the drying up of lakes,
ponds and wetlands; reduced groundwater recharge; and
an increased risk of flash flooding if the dry ground cannot
effectively absorb rainwater.
Dissolved oxygen in streams, lakes and shallow aquatic
habitats is likely to decline.
Historical weather records indicate that the frequency
of extreme precipitation events has been increasing
across the Southeast. This observed trend is expected
to continue. Summers are expected to trend toward
extremes, being either exceptionally wet or exceptionally
dry (Kunkeletal.2013).
GROUP
DW WW
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of
snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or
click on a water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
= Particularly relevant to Southeast and the Caribbean Q= Somewhat relevant
Fewer tropical storms are projected, but these storms are
expected to be of greater intensity - with more Category
4 and 5 events. Higher peak wind speeds, rainfall intensity
and storm surge height and strength would also increase inland and coastal flooding, coastal erosion rates, wind damage to coastal
forests and wetland loss (Knutson et al. 2013).
More frequent storm surge flooding and permanent inundation of coastal ecosystems and communities is likely in some low-
lying areas, particularly along the central Gulf Coast where the land surface is sinking due to geological tectonics, consolidation of
sediment and groundwater pumping.
Sea level will gradually rise to a critical elevation, resulting in rapid saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers, and salinity increases
in estuaries, coastal wetlands and tidal rivers (SFWMD 2009, Obeysekera et al. 2011).
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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SEPA
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
Climate Region Brief
page 2 of 2
> SOUTHEAST &THE CARIBBEAN
Many types of extreme weather events, such as
heat waves and regional droughts, have become
more frequent and intense during the past 40 to
50 years. The figure to the right shows the number
of weather/climate disasters from 1980-2012 that
resulted in more than $1 billion in damages. The
Southeast has experienced more billion-dollar
disasters than any other region (NOAA 2013).
Billion Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters
1980-2012
Number of Events
1-8 9-16 17-25 26-35 36-44 45-54
Trends in Water Availability
2030 2040
Year
in water availability
I -6.4% to -5%
-5% to -2.5%
-2.5% to 0%
0% to 2.5%
2.5% to 3.6%
Net water supply in the Southeast is expected to decline
over the next several decades due to droughts, increased
demand due to higher temperatures and competing uses
(e.g., agriculture). The top panel shows projected 10-year
moving average annual water yield based on a mid-range and
low emissions scenario.The bottom panel shows average annual
water yield (equivalent to water availability) trends projected
for 2010-2060 (under mid-range and low emissions scenarios)
compared to the average from 2001 -2010. The western part of
the Southeast is expected to see the largest reductions in water
availability. Statistical confidence in the data is highest in the
hatched areas (Sun et al. 2013). Analysis of current and future
water resources in the Caribbean shows many of the small
islands would be exposed to severe water stress under all climate
scenarios (UNEP 2008).
In general, annual precipitation is projected to
decrease across the region (USGCRP 2014). The
figure to the right shows projected changes in annual
precipitation for 2060 using data from EPA's Climate
Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). Data
shows that decreases in precipitation are projected for
the region, with the largest percent decrease in Florida.
These changes could exacerbate existing challenges
related to surface water quality that drinking water and
wastewater utilities already face.
Projected Change in Average Annual
Precipitation for 2060
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Midwest
CLIMATE READY
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Climate Region Brief > MIDWEST
Return to Introduction
Climate change in the midwestern United States is projected to continue to follow already observable trends.
Temperature rise, shifts in precipitation patterns and timing and altered hydrologic cycles can be expected due
to climate change.The following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research Program assessments
(USGCRP 2009, USGCRP 2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end of the 21st century -
using both high and low emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
GROUP
DW WW
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack
44
4
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
4
44
44
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
44
4
44
4
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
4
4
4
4
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
Heat waves are anticipated to be more
frequent, more severe and longer in duration.
As air temperatures increase, so will surface
water temperatures and frequency of algal
blooms. In some lakes, mixing of the warmer
surface lake water with the colder water
below will be reduced; this stratification can
cut off oxygen from bottom layers, increasing
the risk of oxygen-poor or oxygen-free "dead
zones" (Reutter et al. 2011).
In lakes with contaminated sediment,
warmer water and low-oxygen conditions
can more readily release mercury and other
persistent pollutants into surface water.
Reduced summer water levels are also likely
to reduce the recharge of groundwater, dry
up small streams and reduce the area of
wetlands in the Midwest.
Generally, annual precipitation increased
during the past century (by up to 20% in
some locations), with much of the increase
driven by intensification of the heaviest
rainfalls (Pryor et al. 2009). This tendency
towards more intense precipitation events
is projected to continue in the future (Schoof et al. 2010). Precipitation is projected to increase in winter, spring and fall, but
decrease in the summer, and the average number of days each year without precipitation is expected to increase.
Rainfall-induced flooding is projected to occur twice as often by the end of this century under the lower emissions scenario,
and three times as often under the higher emissions scenario.
Projected increases in storm events will lead to an increase of up to 120% in Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) into Lake
Michigan by 2100 under a very high emissions scenario (Patz et al. 2008).
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
44
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Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or click on a
water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
OO = Particularly relevant to Midwest O = Somewhat relevant
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> MIDWEST
The Great Lakes have recently recorded higher water
temperatures and less ice cover. Due to reduction in its ice cover,
the temperatures of surface water in Lake Superior increased
4.5ฐF in the summer, twice the rate of increase in air temperature
during summers between 1968 and 2002 (Austin et al. 2007).
Great Lake surface temperatures are projected to rise by as much
as 7ฐF by 2050 and 12.1 ฐF by 2100 (Mackey et al. 2012, Trumpickas
et al. 2009). The top panel of the figure to the right shows the
decline in average annual percentage of the Great Lakes covered
with ice from 1970 to 2010. Photos in the bottom panel contrast
extensive vs. minimal ice cover on Lake Erie (Wang et al. 2012).
Winter of 2008-2009 (lower left) was characterized by near-normal
air temperatures over the Great Lakes, while 2011 -2012 (lower
right) was characterized by air temperature of approximately
5.4ฐF warmer than the historical average (images sourced from
NASA MODIS satellite imagery processed by SSEC, University of
Wisconsin and obtained from CoastWatch Great Lakes Program).
Declining Ice Cover on the Great Lakes
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Year
Lake Erie
Annual precipitation has increased in the past century (by up to 20% in some locations), with much of
the increase coming from heavy rain events. The four maps below show projected changes (for 2041 -2070
[relative to 1971-2000]) in (a) annual average precipitation, (b) heavy precipitation (top 2% of all rainfalls), (c)
the increases in the amount of rain falling in the wettest 5-day period and (d) change in the average number of
consecutive dry days with less than 0.01 inches of precipitation. An increase in consecutive dry days has been
used to indicate an increase in future droughts (NOAA NCDC/CICS-NC, IPCC, USGCRP 2014).
Average Precipitation
Heavy Precipitation
(b) I
'
Wettest 5-Day Total
Consecutive Dry Days
PreapiiBlion Difference (inches?
(0
Difference in Number at Days
I I I I
(d)
Preopnaiton Difference (inches)
Difference in Number of Days
Projected Change in Temperature for 2060
Average annual temperature is projected to increase in
the Midwest. The figure to the right shows projected changes
in annual temperature for 2060 using data from EPA's Climate
Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (GREAT). In most of the
Midwest, the average annual temperature is projected to increase
by about 5 to 6ฐ F under a hot/dry scenario compared to current
conditions, with the largest temperature increases projected for
northern Minnesota. Projected changes in seasonal or monthly
temperature may be even more dramatic, causing disruptions
to hydrologic cycles and management of drinking water and
wastewater utilities.
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Great Plains
CLIMATE READY
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Climate Region Brief > GREAT PLAINS
Return to Introduction
Climate change in the Great Plains of the United States is projected to continue to follow already observable
trends. Temperature rise, shifts in precipitation patterns and timing and altered hydrologic cycles can be
expected due to climate change. The following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research Program
assessments (USGCRP 2009, USGCRP 2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end of the
21 st century - using both high and low emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
Projections of increasing temperatures,
faster evaporation rates and more
sustained droughts brought on by
climate change will only add more stress
to overtaxed water sources.
Further stresses on agricultural water
supply are likely as the region's cities
continue to grow, increasing competition
between urban and rural water users.
Precipitation is also projected to change
in all seasons. Conditions are anticipated
to become wetter in the north and drier
in the south. However, large parts of Texas
and Oklahoma are projected to have an
increase in the number of days with no
precipitation (an increase of up to 5 or
more days per year by mid-century).
Rapid spring warming and intense rainfall
could increase runoff and cause flooding,
reducing water quality and eroding soils.
GROUP
DW WW
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
44
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Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or click on a
water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
OO = Particularly relevant to Great Plains O = Somewhat relevant
Projected increases in precipitation are
unlikely to be sufficient to offset decreasing soil moisture and water availability in the Great Plains, due to rising
temperatures and aquifer depletion.
More frequent extreme events, such as heat waves, droughts, snow and heavy rainfall are projected to occur.
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> GREAT PLAINS
Temperatures are projected to continue
to increase over this century, with summer
increases larger than winter increases in the
southern and central Great Plains. This figure
shows changes in the mean annual freeze-free
season length for the Great Plains.The freeze-
free season length has generally been increasing
since the early 20th century. The last occurrence
of 32ฐF in the spring has been occurring earlier,
and the first occurrence of 32ฐF in the fall has
been happening later (Kunkel et al. 2013).
Difference in Mean Annual Freeze-Free Season
Length for the U.S. Great Plains
(Deviations from the 1901-1960 Average)
1900
1920
1940
1960
1980
2000
Year
Projected Change in Number of Dry Days
Higher Emissions (A2)
Current trends in the Great Plains of a drier south
and a wetter north are projected to become more
pronounced by 2050. The figure to the left shows the
projected change in number of days with less than
0.01 inches of precipitation under a higher emissions
scenario (IPCC 2000) for 2041 -2070, compared to 1971 -
2000 averages. The southeastern Great Plains, which
is the wettest portion of the region, is projected to
experience large increases in the number of consecutive
dry days (NOAA NCDC/CIC-NC, USGCRP 2014).
Change in Number of Consecutive Days
-101234
The number of days with heavy precipitation (>1 inch)
is expected to increase by mid-century, especially in
the northern Great Plains. The figure to the right shows
projected changes in the magnitude of the 1-in-100year
storm from current conditions using data from EPA's Climate
Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (GREAT) for 2060. The
magnitude of the 100-year storm is projected to increase from
5-15% for most of the Great Plains. In parts of the northern and
mid-Great Plains and theTexas Gulf Coast, the magnitude of
the 100-year storm is projected to increase by more than 15%.
Increases in the magnitude of heavy precipitation events will
result in greater challenges to drinking water and wastewater
utilities (e.g., facility inundation and resulting infrastructure
damage, increased combined sewer overflows and increased
pollutant and sediment loading).
Projected Change in Intense Precipitation
(1 -in-100 Year Storm) for 2060
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Climate Region Brief > SOUTHWEST
Return to Introduction
Climate change in the southwestern United States is projected to continue to follow already observable trends.
Temperature rise, shifts in precipitation patterns and timing and altered hydrologic cycles can be expected due
to climate change.The following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research Program assessments
(USGCRP 2009, USGCRP 2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end of the 21st century -
using both high and low emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
GROUP
DW WW
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
The 2001 -2010 decade was the warmest on record.
Average observed temperatures in the Southwest were
almost 2ฐF higher than historic averages, with the region
experiencing more heat waves and fewer cold snaps.
Projected increases in summertime temperatures are
greater than the increase of annual average temperature
in parts of the region and will likely be exacerbated
locally by expanding urban heat island effects.
Less winter precipitation falling as snow and earlier
spring snow melt are projected to shift runoff and most
of the annual streamflow to earlier in the year.
Future droughts are projected to be substantially
hotter. For major river basins, such as the Colorado
River Basin, drought is projected to become more
frequent, intense and longer lasting than in the
historical record (Cayan et al. 2012).
Increasing temperature will cause more droughts,
wildfires and invasive species colonization, which will
accelerate transformation of the landscape. Models
project a doubling of burned area in the Southern
Rockies (Litschert et al. 2012) and up to 74% more fires
in California (Westerlingetal. 2012).The area burned
in the Southwest has increased by more than 300%
compared to the 1970s and 1980s. Drought has been widespread in the Southwest since 2000; the drought conditions
during the 2000s were the most severe average drought conditions of any decade.
Increased flood risk in the Southwest is likely to result from a combination of decreased snow cover on the lower slopes of
high mountains and an increased fraction of winter precipitation falling as rain, which will run off more rapidly and alter the
timing of flooding.
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of
snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
4
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Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or
click on a water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
= Particularly relevant to Southwest ^ = Somewhat relevant
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> SOUTHWEST
Reduced water content of snowpack or snow
water equivalent, runoff and soil moisture are
projected in the Southwest. These figures show
percentage projected changes for mid-century
(2041 to 2070) under a higher emissions scenario
(IPCC 2000). These projections illustrate: (a) major
losses in the water content of snowpack that fills
western rivers; (b) significant reductions in runoff
in California, Arizona
and the Central Rocky
Mountains and (c)
reductions in soil
moisture across the
Southwest. Decline
in snowpack and
streamflow and more
frequent dry winters
suggest an increased
risk for systems to
experience water
shortages (Cayan
etal.2013,USGCRP
2014).
Changes in Snow,
Runoff and
Soil Moisture
A2 2041-2070
255
-40 -20 0 20
Percent Change
40
The frequency of heat waves has generally been
increasing in recent decades, with a statistically
significant upward trend. More intense, longer-lasting
heat wave events are projected to occur over this century.
There is an overall downward trend in the occurrence of
cold waves that is also statistically significant.The graphs
below show the changes from 1900-2000 in the heat
wave (top panel) and cold wave (bottom panel) index for
the Southwest (Kunkel et al. 2013).
Mean Annual Heat Wave (top) and Cold Wave
(bottom) Index for the Southwest U.S.
(Occurance of 4-day, 1 in 5-year events)
Heal Wane Index
1940 1960
Year
Com Wave Index
1900
1940 1960
Year
Average annual precipitation is projected to
decrease throughout the Southwest. The figure
to the right shows projected changes in annual
precipitation for 2060 using data from EPA's Climate
Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT).
Conditions are projected to be drier for the entire
region, and in some portions of the Southwest, average
annual precipitation is projected to decrease by 25-30%
compared to current conditions. Increases in the annual
maximum number of consecutive dry days, up to 26
days above present-day values, are expected for parts
of southern California and Arizona. These precipitation
projections contribute to the increased probability of
more severe droughts for the region.
Projected Change in Average Annual Precipitation
for 2060
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Northwest
CLIMATE READY
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Climate Region Brief > NORTHWEST
Return to Introduction
Climate change in the northwestern United States is projected to continue to follow already observable trends.
Temperature rise, shifts in precipitation patterns and timing and altered hydrologic cycles can be expected due
to climate change.The following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research Program assessments
(USGCRP 2009, USGCRP 2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end of the 21st century -
using both high and low emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
Average annual temperature for the
Northwest is projected to increase by about
3 to 10ฐF during this century.The number of
hot days (maximum temperatures over 95ฐF) is
projected to increase, with the largest increase
in the southeastern part of the region.
By 2050, snowmelt is projected to shift 3 to 4
weeks earlier than the 20th century average.
Areas dominated by rain, rather than snow,
are not expected to see major shifts in the
timing of runoff.
April 1 snowpack has declined 20% since the
1950s, a trend that is projected to continue,
leading to earlier peak streamflow and a
reduction in the amount of water available
during the warm season.
Increasing winter rainfall (as opposed to
snowfall) is expected to lead to more winter
flooding and an increased number of
landslides due to saturated soils.
Sensitive watersheds are projected to
experience both increased flood risk in winter
and increased drought risk in summer due to
warming.
GROUP
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
DW WW
4
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Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or click on a
water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
OO = Particularly relevant to Northwest O = Somewhat relevant
Precipitation is expected to increase in all seasons except the summer. Drier summers will lead to a greater risk of wildfires
throughout the region.
Low streamflows in late summer are projected to be even lower due to drought and reduced summer precipitation (as much
as 30% reduction by 2100).
Sea-level rise will increase erosion of the Northwest coast and cause the loss of beaches and other significant coastal land.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES Continued on page 2
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> NORTHWEST
Low streamflows in late summer
are projected to be even lower due
to drought and reduced summer
precipitation. Decreases in summer
flows can lead to water shortages.
The figure to the right shows June
streamflow trends from 1948 to 2008.
The fraction of annual flow arriving
in June in snow-fed rivers increased
slightly in rain-dominated coastal
basins and decreased in mixed rain-
snow basins and snowmelt-dominated
basins for 1948-2008 (Fritze et al. 2011).
Observed Shifts in Streamflow Timing
O
^O
FS
o
0 I
o
Q>
June Streamflow Trends
(fraction of annual flow)
1948-2008
-15% to -8%
-8% to -4%
-4% to -2%
O -2% to-1%
O -1% to 0%
O 0%to +1%
O +1%to+2%
+2% to +3%
Elevation
C3 300 ft -1500 ft
C31500 ft -3000 ft
C3 3000 ft- 6000 ft
Projected Increase
in Area Burned
04 600% to 700%
^^^^^
04 500% to 600%
04 400% to 500%
04 300% to 400%
200% to 300%
100% to 200%
Not modeled t
Large increases in area burned by
wildfire are projected for most of
the Northwest. The figure to the left
shows the projected increase in area
burned, considering temperature
and precipitation changes
associated with a 2.2ฐF global
warming (NRC 2011).The divisions
of the different shaded locations are
areas that share common climatic
and vegetation characteristics
(Bailey 1995).
An increase in extreme daily precipitation
is projected for the Northwest, with a 13%
increase in number of days with more than
1 inch of precipitation. The figure to the right
shows projected changes in the magnitude of
1 -in-100 year storm from current conditions
using data from EPA's Climate Resilience
Evaluation and Awareness Tool (GREAT) for
2060. The magnitude of the 100-year storm is
projected to increase about 4% along most of
the Pacific coast, 8 to 12% in the central portion
of the region and 12 to 20% in the southeastern
portion of the region.
Projected Change in Intense Precipitation
(1-in-100 Year Storm) for 2060
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Climate Region Brief > ALASKA
Return to Introduction
Climate change in Alaska is projected to continue to follow already observable trends.Temperature rise, shifts
in precipitation patterns and timing and altered hydrologic cycles can be expected due to climate change. The
following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research Program assessments (USGCRP 2009, USGCRP
2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end of the 21st century- using both high and low
emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
Average annual temperatures in this
region are projected to rise about 2 to
4ฐF by the middle of this century under a
lower emissions scenario. However, by the
end of the century, northern parts of the
region are projected to warm by 6 to 8ฐF,
while the rest of the region is projected to
warm by 4 to 6ฐF.
Higher air temperatures will increase
evaporation rates, reducing water
availability and storage. In addition, these
increasing temperatures will continue to
reduce Arctic sea ice coverage.
Annual precipitation is projected to
increase by an average of 25% under a
high emissions scenario by the end of the
century.
Alaska's coastlines, many of which are low
in elevation, are increasingly threatened
by a combination of the loss of their
protective sea-ice buffer, increasing storm
activity and thawing coastal permafrost.
GROUP
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
DW WW
4
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Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or click on a
water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
OO = Particularly relevant to Alaska O = Somewhat relevant
The past several years have seen unprecedented fire occurrences on the tundra of northern and western Alaska. The
average area burned per year by wildfires in Alaska is projected to double by the middle of this century and triple
under a moderate greenhouse gas emissions scenario by 2100.
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> ALASKA
Projected Change in Average Annual
Temperature for Two Emissions Scenarios
Average annual temperatures in Alaska are
projected to increase. Northern latitudes are
warming faster than more temperate regions,
and Alaska has already warmed much faster than
the rest of the country. The figure to the right
shows projected changes in temperature, relative
to 1971 -1999, projected for Alaska in the early,
middle and late parts of this century. Projections
are provided for both higher and lower emissions
scenarios (Stewart et al. 2013).
2021-2050 2041-2070 2070-2099
Lower Emissions (B1)
Temperature Change ("F)
I 5 35 5.5 75 95 11 S 1.15
Projected Average Soil Temperature for Two
Emissions Scenarios
2001-2010 2041-2050 2091-2100
Lower Emissions Scenario (B1)
Soil Temperature (ฐF)
Increasing temperatures will result in thawing
permafrost, the extent of which can be seen from
soil temperatures.The figure to the left shows the
simulated annual mean soil temperature at 1-meter
depth under high and low emissions scenarios.
Permafrost degradation is projected to increase for
the mid and late 21st century for both scenarios
Thawing permafrost can mobilize subsurface water,
reroute surface water and damage roads, runways,
water and sewer systems and other infrastructure
(Permafrost Lab, Geophysical Institute, University of
Alaska Fairbanks).
3032 40
Annual precipitation is projected to increase
throughout Alaska. The figure to the right shows
projected changes in average annual precipitation
for 2060 using data from EPA's Climate Resilience
Evaluation and Awareness Tool (GREAT). Data
shows that a 10 to 25% increase in average annual
precipitation is projected for the entire state, which
could exacerbate challenges such as coastal erosion
and stormwater management that drinking water
and wastewater utilities already face.
Projected Change in Average Annual
Precipitation for 2060
<>ป*<*ซ W3M81U
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Hawaii and the U.S.- ">
Affiliated Pacific Islands
Climate Region Brief > HAWAII and the U.S.-AFFILIATED
PACIFIC ISLANDS
Return to Introduction
Climate change for the U.S.-afilliated islands in the Pacific Ocean is projected to continue to follow already
observable trends.Temperature rise, shifts in precipitation patterns and timing and altered hydrologic cycles
can be expected due to climate change.The following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research
Program assessments (USGCRP 2009, USGCRP 2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end
of the 21st century- using both high and low emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
Ocean surface temperature has increased by as
much as 3.6ฐF since the 1950s. Projections for the
rest of this century suggest increases in air and
ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean.
Average annual precipitation, average stream
discharge and stream base flow have been trending
downward for nearly a century, especially in recent
decades, but with high variability.
Rainfall during summer months, traditionally the
drier part of the year, is expected to increase 5% by
the end of the century in the Pacific and may result
in unusual summer flooding.
In Hawaii, decreases in precipitation are projected
for the northern islands under the lower emissions
scenario through the end of the 21st century and
under the higher emissions scenario through the
middle of the 21st century. Increases in precipitation
are projected for the southern islands under the
higher emissions scenario.
GROUP
DW WW
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of
snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
= Particularly relevant to Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands
= Somewhat relevant
Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or
click on a water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
Changes in weather patterns are projected to
cause an increase in the frequency and intensity of
extreme storm events, sea-level rise, coastal erosion,
coral reef bleaching, ocean acidification and contamination of freshwater resources by saltwater.
Islands and other low-lying coastal areas will be at increased risk from coastal inundation due to sea-level rise and
storm surge.
Hurricane (typhoon) wind speeds and rainfall rates are likely to increase, which, combined with sea-level rise, is
expected to cause higher storm surge levels.
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page2of2 PACIFIC ISLANDS
Projections for the rest of this century suggest
increases in air and ocean surface temperatures
in the Pacific Ocean. These figures to the right
display projected increases in the annual mean
temperature of Hawaiian Islands for three future
time periods under both high and low emissions
scenarios. Simulations indicate a statistically
significant increase in annual mean temperature for
all future time periods (Kunkel et al. 2013).
Simulated Change in Annual Mean Temperature
A2
B1
S
9
Mean Wet Season (June-September) Rainfall
for the Tropical Western Pacific
(GFDL CMS Model, RCP8.5 Simulator)
Preliminary CMIP5 projections
show a clear tendency for
increased wet season rainfall
in the Western Pacific, with an
overall trend towards fewer,
extremely high rainfall events.
The figure to the right shows
a tendency for increased wet
season rainfall in the Western
Pacific islands through the end
of the century as the climate
warms (Keener et al. 2013).
14
1900
1940
1980
2020
2060
2100
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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CLIMATE READY
.WATER UTILITIES
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Coasts
Climate Region Brief > COASTS
Return to Introduction
Climate change for U.S. coastal areas is projected to continue to follow already observable trends.Temperature
rise, shifts in precipitation patterns and timing and altered hydrologic cycles can be expected due to climate
change. The following statements, drawn from U.S. Global Change Research Program assessments (USGCRP
2009, USGCRP 2014), are based on projections for climate conditions at the end of the 21st century- using
both high and low emissions scenarios (IPCC 2000).
OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CHANGES
Coastal waters are very likely to continue to
warm by as much 4 to 8 ฐF in this century,
both in summer and winter.
More spring runoff and warmer coastal
waters will increase the seasonal reduction
in oxygen and increase the area and
intensity of coastal dead zones in places
such as the northern Gulf of Mexico and the
Chesapeake Bay.
Significant sea-level rise and storm surge
will erode shorelines and adversely affect
coastal cities and ecosystems. Sea level has
risen along most of the coast over the last
50 years, and will rise more in the future. Sea
level is projected to rise another 1 to 4 feet
by 2100.
Sea-level rise is expected to increase
saltwater intrusion into coastal freshwater
aquifers, making some unusable without
desalination.
GROUP
Reduced groundwater recharge
Lower lake & reservoir levels
Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack
Low flow conditions & altered water quality
Saltwater intrusion into aquifers
Altered surface water quality
High flow events & flooding
Flooding from coastal storm surges
Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands
Increased fire risk & altered vegetation
Volume & temperature challenges
Changes in agricultural water demand
Changes in energy sector needs
Changes in energy needs of utilities
DW WW
4
4
44
4
4
44
44
44
44
4
4
44
44
44
44
44
44
Click on a group name above to read more about these impacts or click on a
water drop above to read more about a specific impact.
OO = Particularly relevant to coasts O = Somewhat relevant
The intensity, frequency and duration of North Atlantic hurricanes has increased in recent decades, and the intensity of
these storms is likely to increase during this century.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
Climate Region Brief > COASTS
page 2 of 2
Over the past 100 years, sea level
has increased 1.2 feet in New York
City. This graph shows that the
observed rise in sea level at the Battery
in New York City has significantly
exceeded the global average of
8 inches over the past century,
increasing the risk of impacts to critical
urban infrastructure in low-lying areas
(NPCC2010).
Observed Sea-Level Rise in New York City
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Year
Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise
New Orleans
Low Moderate High Very High
Miami
Significant sea-level rise and storm surge will
erode shorelines and adversely affect coastal
cities and ecosystems in the Southeast. The
figure to the left shows the relative risk that
physical changes will occur as sea level rises.
The Coastal Vulnerability Index used here is
calculated based on tidal range, wave height,
coastal slope, shoreline change, landform and
processes, and historical rate of relative sea level
rise.The approach combines an assessment
of a coastal system's susceptibility to change
with its natural ability to adapt to changing
environmental conditions, and yields a relative
measure of the system's natural vulnerability to
the effects of sea-level rise (Hammar-Klose and
Thieler 2001, USGCRP 2014).
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.^^gate
-:""' -.fc.
Group: DROUGHT (DW)
-
to Introduction
Observed data indicate that drought intensity and frequency have been increasing in the United States during the last few
decades, especially in much of the West. Average values of the Palmer Drought Severity Index from 2000-2010 indicated the
most severe average drought of any decade on record. Summer droughts are expected to intensify in most regions of the
United States (USGCRP2014).The impacts to water utilities from drought associated with climate change may be driven or
forced by changing water levels in aquifers and reservoirs, loss of snowpackand reductions in surface water flows. Clicking
on the drinking water icon next to each impact name will bring you to that particular Strategy Brief. Clicking on the Green
Infrastructure or Water Demand Management icon will bring you to that Sustainability Brief.
Reduced Groundwater Recharge
Reduced precipitation and higher loss of water from plants and evaporation due to higher temperatures will decrease
surface water supplies and groundwater recharge, especially impacting utilities that rely on groundwater supplies. Review
this brief to learn more about how the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) used stormwater capture and water recycling to
counteract the effects of reduced groundwater recharge and how Tucson Water has constructed a large-scale recharge and
recovery system to secure its water supply through 2050.
Lower Lake and Reservoir Levels
Decreases in mean annual precipitation and higher loss of water from vegetation and evaporation due to higher temperatures
will lead to lower levels in the lakes and reservoirs that water utilities rely on for surface water supplies. These lower levels
may make it difficult to meet water demands, especially in the summer months, and may drop water levels below intake
infrastructure. Review this brief to learn more about how Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) uses aggressive
conservation practices and new construction to address falling water levels in Lake Mead.
Changes in Runoff and Loss of Snowpack
Increased temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns will alter seasonal runoff and storage of water in snowpack. These
changes in water supply could strain the capacity of reservoirs to hold larger and earlier peak runoff flows, cause shortages
in the summer due to longer duration of the warmer and drier season and compromise biodiversity goals (e.g., managing
cold-water fish, such as salmon and trout). Lower annual precipitation will lead to lower streamflow in many locations, which
may lead to diminished water quality. Diminished water quality in receiving waters may lead to more stringent requirements
for wastewater discharges, leading to higher treatment costs and the need for capital improvements. Review this brief to
learn more about how the Portland Water Bureau is considering expanding its groundwater supply or surface water storage
to offset the impacts seasonal runoff changes will have on water supply and how East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)
used results of a "bottom up" sensitivity analysis to plan for impacts related to projected earlier runoff.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the IFjl, ww or Jrw icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
r HP?
ANNING
Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and costs
of resultant changes in treatment.
Incorporate monitoring of groundwater conditions and climate change projections into
groundwater models.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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&EPA
CLIMATE READY
I/ATER UTILITIES
Group: DROUGHT (DW)
page 2 of 2
PLANNING (continued)
jjj^ Use hydrologic models to project runoff and incorporate model results during water supply
*& planning.
^p Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
ฉParticipate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation.
COST
$
$
$-$$
PERATIONAL STRATEGIES
@ Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
@ Monitor surface water conditions, including river discharge and snowmelt.
@; Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water, including use of greywater in homes and businesses.
Practice conjunctive use (i.e., optimal use of surface water and groundwater).
Reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with weather-linked controls).
Practice demand management through communication to public on water conservation actions.
Practice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak detection
and water loss monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or rainwater
harvesting tanks.
$
$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$
$-$$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
^ Acquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
" regulate runoff.
Build infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery, either for seasonal storage or longer-term
water banking, (e.g., recharge canals, recovery wells).
1;%^% Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
^ ^ conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
|gi| Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^ times of service disruption or shortage.
^1 Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
^^ and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
jgi| Increase or modify treatment capabilities to address treatment needs of marginal water quality in
^ new sources.
Retrofit intakes to accommodate lower water levels in reservoirs and decreased late season flows.
Build or expand infrastructure to support conjunctive use.
||P fyl Build systems to recycle wastewater for energy, industrial, agricultural or household use.
COST
$$$
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
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REDUCED GROUNDWATER RECHARGE (DW)
Reduced precipitation, decline in runoff, projected loss of snowpack, increased loss of water from vegetation and
evaporation due to higher temperatures will not only lead to decreases in surface water supplies; these changes will also
lead to decreased groundwater recharge, impacting utilities that rely on groundwater supplies. Decreases in available
surface water have already resulted in higher groundwater use in some areas, including the Central Valley of California,
where during the 2006-2009 drought, groundwater storage declined by an estimated 24 km3 to 31 km3, equivalent to the
storage capacity in Lake Mead (Famiglietti et al. 2011).
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Between 1895 and 2011, mean annual precipitation in the United States increased by close to 2 inches, but there have
been important regional and seasonal differences. Over the past few decades, decreases in annual precipitation have
been observed in Hawaii and in parts of the Southeast and Southwest (USGCRP 2014).
Similarly, climate projections indicate differences in precipitation trends by region. For the Southwest, climate models
project continued decreases in mean annual precipitation in this century (Orlowsky andSeneviratne 2012). Seasonal
precipitation projections for winter and spring in the Southwest also show a decreasing trend. However, in the northern
part of the United States, winter and spring precipitation are projected to increase (USGCRP 2014).
Many southwestern and western watersheds are experiencing increasingly drier conditions. Even larger runoff reductions
(10 to 20%) are expected over some of these watersheds in the next 50 years (Cayan et al. 2010).
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
djS^ ^fi^\ i^nj^t
Click on the IHl.gJ or CT| icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
Incorporate monitoring of groundwater conditions and climate change projections into
groundwater models.
1 Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation.
OST
$
$
$-$$
PERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water, including use of greywater in homes and
businesses.
Practice conjunctive use (i.e., optimal use of surface water and groundwater).
Reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with weather-linked controls).
Practice demand management through communication to public on water conservation actions.
Practice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak
^7 detection and water loss monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or
rainwater harvesting tanks.
:OST
$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$
$-$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
REDUCED GROUND WATER RECHARGE (DW)
page 2 of 2
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Build infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery, (either for seasonal storage or longer-
term water banking), (e.g., recharge canals, recovery wells). (See example 2 below)
|S| Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^^ times of service disruption or shortage.
Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
conjunctive use and stormwater capture. (See examples 1 and2 below)
|5R| Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
^ and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
Build or expand infrastructure to support conjunctive use.
Build systems to recycle wastewater for energy, industrial, agricultural or household use.
COST
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE 1
The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) is a wholesale water and wastewater service provider in Southern California's
Riverside County. Currently, the IEUA region receives more than half of its average water needs from groundwater sources
(primarily the underlying Chino Basin Aquifer), about a quarter from Northern California via a large intrastate water distribution
system (the California State Water Project) and the rest from surface water and a rapidly expanding recycled water system.
An analysis, based on projections from an ensemble of 21 climate models, showed that winter precipitation between 2000
and 2030 could change from -27% to +19%. However, due to the potentially hotter and drier conditions, outdoor water
demand could increase by 11 % by 2040 assuming constant land use patterns, demand factors and water supply variability.
There may be decreasing sustainable groundwater yields of up to -15% by 2040 (Groves et al. 2008). IEUA conducted a robust
decision-making analysis with the goal of adopting adaptation measures that would not exceed $3.75 billion. In response
to the results of this analysis, the utility decided to accelerate expansion of its dry-year-yield program (i.e., groundwater
recharge using stormwater) as well as implementation of its water recycling efforts. These efforts involve the reuse of tertiary
treated wastewater for groundwater recharge and other functions. In total, the water recycling plan calls for an increase in
recycled water from 9.9 million mVyear in 2005 to 85 million mVyear in 2025 (Groves et al. 2008, Lembertand Groves 2010).
Implementing these measures will help counteract the effects of reduced groundwater recharge due to climate change.
EXAMPLE 2
Before the year 2001,Tucson, Arizona was the largest city in the country completely dependent on groundwater, a stressed and
potentially shrinking resource, for its water supply. To ensure a more reliable and sustainable supply, Tucson Water developed a
framework in the 1990s that outlines strategies to reduce dependence on groundwater. Tucson Water is allocated 144,191 acre-
feet of water per year from the Colorado River through the construction of the Central Arizona Project (CAP), a canal system
that brings water from the Colorado River into Arizona. As a part of this framework, Tucson Water began constructing a large
scale recharge/recovery system for the water purchased from its CAP allocation in the late 1990s. The system uses allocated
water to recharge underground wells from which the supply is then pumped and distributed to customers. Tucson Water can
currently recharge its entire CAP allocation, which exceeds its annual demand - allowing the utility to store almost 45,000 acre-
feet of water per year for future use.
Recharging groundwater with allocated water from the Colorado River provides Tucson with complete system redundancy
with no reliance on stressed groundwater aquifers. Tucson Water projects that it can maintain reliable service to customers
through 2050 using only the recharged water, even considering a reduced allocation of water from the Colorado River (Tucson
2012). The stored groundwater is also useful in meeting peak demand during hot summer months which may continue to
grow as summer temperatures rise. In the future,Tucson Water plans to construct additional spreading basins and production
wells to provide storage and wheeling opportunities to local and regional CAP partners. Tucson Water will also begin
implementation of its Recycled Water Program to make underutilized reclaimed water available to meet future potable needs
(Tucson 2013).
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LOWER LAKE AND RESERVOIR LEVELS (DW)
Return to IntroductionJ
Reductions in lake and reservoir levels may occur due to the combined impacts of decreased mean annual precipitation,
reductions in runoff and higher loss of water from vegetation and evaporation due to higher temperatures. These surface
water resources are critical for water utilities that lack other viable sources. Recent data indicate that lake levels for three of
the Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan and Ontario) have been below their long-term averages for much of 2000-2010 (NOAA
2012). Summer drought has left both Lake Michigan and Lake Ontario water levels approximately 1 foot below the long-term
average. These lower levels may exacerbate the ability of utilities to meet water demands, especially during summer months,
and in some cases may drop water levels below intake infrastructure.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Between 1895 and 2011, mean annual precipitation increased by more than 2 inches in the United States, but important
regional and seasonal differences have been observed. Over the past few decades, decreases in annual precipitation have
been seen in Hawaii as well as parts of the Southeast and Southwest.
Climate models project that decreases in annual precipitation in the Southwest will continue in this century (Orlowsky
andSeneviratne2012). In general, increased winter and spring precipitation is projected for the northern part of the U.S.,
while decreased winter and spring precipitation is projected for the Southwest (USGCRP 2014). For utilities in these areas,
declining precipitation may translate directly into decreased volumes in source lakes and reservoirs.
Many southwestern and western watersheds are currently experiencing increasingly drier conditions. Even larger
reductions in runoff (10% to 20%) are expected over some of these watersheds in the next 50 years. Runoff reductions can
impact surface water supplies and result in decreased water volumes (Cayan etal. 2012).
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on theK-B, BSorC^icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
^^^^^^^^^^B.
:OST
$
$-$$
NNING
i Conduct training for personnel in climate change impacts and adaptation.
Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation. (See example below)
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
^p Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
jEfc Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water, including use of greywater in homes and
^^ businesses.
Practice conjunctive use (i.e., optimal use of surface water and groundwater).
Reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with weather-linked controls). (See
example below)
Practice demand management through communication to public on water conservation actions.
(See example below)
COST
$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
LOWER LAKE AND RESERVOIR LEVELS (DW)
page 2 of 3
PERATIONAL STRATEGIES (continued)
Practice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak
P rซ detection and water loss monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or
rainwater harvesting tanks. (See example below)
COST
^^^^F
$-$$
APITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
ฉAcquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
regulate runoff.
Build infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery, (either for seasonal storage or longer-
term water banking), (e.g., recharge canals, recovery wells).
Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
|S@| Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^^ times of service disruption or shortage.
^^ Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
^ and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
|ป| Increase or modify treatment capabilities to address treatment needs of marginal water quality in
^ new sources.
Retrofit intakes to accommodate lower water levels in reservoirs. (See example below)
Build or expand infrastructure to support conjunctive use.
Build systems to recycle wastewater for energy, industrial, agricultural or household use.
$$$
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE
The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and its member agencies supply water to approximately 2 million people
and more than 40 million annual visitors. The SNWA currently draws about 90 percent of the community's water supply
from the Colorado River via Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the United States. During the past decade,
the impact of drought has caused Lake Mead elevations to decline by more than 100 feet, representing a storage loss
of more than 4 trillion gallons. The SNWA is concerned about further reductions in streamflow from climate change and
increased demands. A study conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Colorado River Basin States projected a
3.2 million acre-foot annual imbalance between supply and demand for the Colorado River Basin by 2060 (Bureau of
Reclamation 2012). For the SNWA, reduced Colorado River streamflow would result in lower levels in Lake Mead, the
potential loss of the ability to withdraw water from existing intakes, reduced water quality at withdrawal locations, and
increased power requirements to pump water a greater vertical distance.
To ensure a reliable supply for residents and visitors into the future, the SNWA launched an extensive water conservation
program more than a decade ago; it is also investing in significant infrastructure enhancements related to its Lake Mead
intakes. Demand management practices (i.e., education, incentives, regulation and rates) have reduced consumptive
water use by 32% since 2000, even as the population has increased by nearly half a million. Examples of successful
strategies include: incentives for homeowners and commercial properties that convert turf to water efficient landscapes;
working with landscapers in the area to provide them with water-efficient irrigation technology; rebates on pool covers;
and time/day restrictions on landscape irrigation, including for commercial customers. Infrastructure enhancements
include the completion of a second intake, ongoing construction of a third deeper intake in Lake Mead, additional water
treatment capacity using ozone, and distribution system expansions.
The SNWA is also using EPA's Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) to evaluate a number of physical
adaptation measures to address the impacts related to declining lake levels. These options include infrastructure
improvements to ensure operability at lower lake levels and constructing a new intake that can withdraw water from
deeper in the lake where the water is cooler and of higher quality.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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UTILITIES LOWER LAKE AND RESERVOIR LEVELS (DW)
page 3 of 3
EXAMPLE (continued)
Despite the agency's successful conservation strategies, reservoir levels may continue to decline. Even if SNWA stopped
withdrawing water entirely for a year, Lake Mead would only rise by approximately 3 feet, given its current elevation,
which would do little to offset the 100 feet of decline that has been seen in the past 14 years. Recognizing this, SNWA
has made it a priority to work with the other states that rely on the Colorado River and Mexico to develop innovative
solutions through key partnerships (Bureau of Reclamation 2012).
For more information see: http://www.snwa.com/ws/resource plan.html
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CHANGES IN SEASONAL RUNOFF & LOSS OF SNOWPACK Return to introduction J
Increased temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns will alter seasonal runoff and storage of water in snowpacks.
These disruptions in water supply could strain the capacity of reservoirs to hold larger and earlier peak runoff flows, cause
shortages in the summer due to the longer hot and dry season and compromise biodiversity goals (e.g., managing cold-
water fish, such as salmon and trout).
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Over the last 50 years, there have been widespread temperature-related reductions in snowpack in the West, particularly
at lower elevations. In both the West and the Northeast, there has been a transition to more rain and less snow.
Declines in spring snowpack, earlier snowmelt-fed streamflow and more precipitation falling as rain instead of snow in
much of the western United States have been observed since 1950. In some locations in the West, half of the annual flow
has arrived 5 to 20 days earlier each year from 2001 -2010, compared to the average from the second half of the 20th
century (USGCRP2014). For the Northeast, runoff from snowmelt is projected to occur earlier in the year. By the end of the
century, in some cases spring runoff in the West may occur up to 60 days earlier, while in the Northeast, it could advance
14 days (USGCRP 2009).
Between 2001 and 2010, streamflow totals in many river basins in the Southwest were 5% to 37% lower than 20th
century average flows (Hoerling etal. 2012). Annual runoff and streamflow are projected to decline in the Southwest and
Southeast. Mean runoff declines are projected throughout the year and especially from November to May for some river
basins in the Southeast (USGCRP 2014).
Many southwestern and western watersheds are experiencing increasingly drier conditions with projected runoff
reductions ranging from 10 to 20% over some watersheds in the next 50 years (Cayan et al. 2010).
In California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, snowpack reductions are projected to range from 25% to 40% by 2050, leading
to a loss of snowpack storage from an average of 15 million acre-feet to an estimated 9 to 10.5 million acre-feet per year.
By 2090, assuming an increase in mean temperatures of 3.8 ฐF, the watershed upstream of the San Francisco estuary could
lose 50% of its April snowpack (Standish-Lee and Lecina 2008).
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 9 in the Introduction.
^7i^ jฃ^* t^^\
Click on the \m, Wm or Fil icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
st Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and
^ costs of resultant changes in treatment.
i| Use hydrologic models to project runoff and incorporate model results during water supply
^ planning. (Seeexamples 1 and2below)
P Conduct training for personnel in climate change impacts and adaptation strategies.
IK, Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
"^adaptation.
$
$
$
$-$$
PERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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SEPA
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
CHANGES IN SEASONAL RUNOFF & LOSS OF SNOWPACK
(DW) page 2 of 3
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
^ Monitor surface water conditions, including river discharge and snowmelt.
ฉFinance and facilitate systems to recycle water, including use of greywater in homes and
businesses.
Practice conjunctive use (i.e., optimal use of surface water and groundwater). (See examples 1 and2
below)
Reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with weather-linked controls).
Practice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak
@ detection and water loss monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or
rainwater harvesting tanks.
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
APITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
ฉAcquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips, and wetlands, to
regulate runoff.
Build infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery, (either for seasonal storage or longer-
term water banking), (e.g., recharge canals, recovery wells).
Hi! tfofc Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
^^ ^^ conjunctive use, and stormwater capture. (See example 2 below)
IPH Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^ times of service disruption or shortage.
|งR| Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
^ and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams. (See example 1 below)
Retrofit intakes to accommodate decreased flow in source waters.
Build or expand infrastructure to support conjunctive use.
$$$
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE 1
The Portland Water Bureau supplies water to approximately 800,000 people in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area,
delivering 40 billion gallons per year. The primary water source is the Bull Run Watershed, and there are two reservoirs with
a combined total storage capacity of 10 billion gallons. Precipitation over the watershed ranges from 59 inches to more than
80 inches per year- most falling during the winter months. The greatest challenge for the utility is supplying water during
the summer months, when demand (220 million gallons per day) is double the average daily use. The utility's secondary
water source is groundwater located along the south shore of the Columbia River.
The utility generated future scenarios of water supply and demand using four different climate model projections and
regional population growth projections. Results such as increased winter precipitation, earlier snowmelt and drier summers
were consistent across the models. The main concern is not a reduction in annual precipitation but seasonal changes in
runoff: spring runoff may increase by 15%, followed by late spring reductions in runoff of 30%. The analysis suggests that
reduced summer precipitation combined with increased seasonal demand may lead to decreased reliability of supply,
unless additional infrastructure is provided. The impact would result in a 2.8-5.4 billon gallon decrease in reservoir storage.
To ameliorate this, the utility is considering expanding groundwater supply or surface water storage. The latter would allow
for the sustainability of the emergency groundwater supply. Besides storage augmentation, other measures that are being
considered include conjunctive use strategies that coordinate the optimal use of existing surface and groundwater supplies,
including use of aquifer storage and recovery (Miller and Yates 2005).
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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CLIMATE READY
UTILITIES CHANGES IN SEASONAL RUNOFF & LOSS OF SNOWPACK
(DW) page 3 of 3
EXAMPLE 2
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) supplies water to 1.3 million people and provides wastewater service to 650,000
people in portions of Alameda and Contra Counties in the San Francisco Bay Area. The primary water source istheMokelumne
River Watershed on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. EBMUD's average water demand is 210 million gallons
per day (77 billion gallons per year) and its seven raw water reservoirs have a storage capacity of 766,740 acre-feet (250 billion
gallons). Annually, precipitation in the Mokelumne River Watershed averages approximately 48 inches. EBMUD must manage
its water supply to meet multiple objectives, including: municipal supply, streamflow regulation, fishery requirements, flood
control, downstream water obligations, recreation and hydropower generation. EBMUD also has a dry year supplemental
supply from the Sacramento River.
The utility performed a "bottom up"sensitivity analysis to evaluate the impact of a 4ฐC increase in temperature and 20%
decrease in precipitation on its carryover storage, flood control releases, customer rationing and river temperature. The analysis
found that earlier runoff as a result of increasing temperature could increase flood control releases in up to 60% of the years
simulated, and carryover storage could decrease in up to 56% of the years simulated. Additionally, carryover storage decreased
3% to 12% in the years simulated. The increase in river temperature varied between 0.3ฐC to 3.5ฐC and depending on whether
it was a dry or wet year. These results were included in EBMUD's Water Supply Master Plan that looks out to the year 2040. The
plan includes alternative strategies for increasing water conservation and water recycling, utilizing its supplemental supply
from the Sacramento River in dry years, and investigating groundwater and regional water projects.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
-------
ERA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
Group: WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION (DW/WW)
Return to Introduction
Changes in water quality associated with climate change may be driven or forced by saline intrusion into aquifers and
altered surface water quality. Clicking on either the drinking water or wastewater icon next to each impact name will bring
you to that particular Strategy Brief. Clicking on the Energy Management or Green Infrastructure icon will bring you to that
Sustainability Brief.
Low Flow Conditions and Altered Water Quality
Many areas are projected to receive less annual total precipitation concentrated in fewer, more extreme rainfall events. Lower
annual precipitation will lead to lower streamflows in many locations, which may lead to diminished water quality.Turbidity
from sediment washing downstream following storm events also impacts water quality, particularly in areas where fires have
diminished the ability of landscapes to hold soil. Diminished water quality in receiving waters may lead to more stringent
requirements for wastewater discharges and impacts to ecosystems that are sensitive to temperature. Review this brief to learn
more about how Spartanburg Water coordinates reservoir releases with the wastewater system to limit water quality issues
associated with wastewater discharge into water bodies.
Saltwater Intrusion into Aquifers
Projected sea-level rise, combined with higher water demand from coastal communities, can lead to saltwater intrusion in both
coastal groundwater aquifers and estuaries. This combination may reduce water quality and increase treatment costs for water
treatment facilities drawing from coastal aquifers or surface water intakes in tidal estuaries near the saltwater line. Desalination
plants may have to treat water with higher salt content, which would also increase costs. Review this brief to learn more about
how the Los Angeles County Flood Control District constructed groundwater injection barriers to block saltwater intrusion.
Altered Surface Water Quality
Climate models project that the average annual temperature in the United States, as well as the number of extreme hot days,
will increase. Higher temperatures can lead to algal blooms, which compromise source water quality and may require more
advanced treatment. These water quality impacts will drive the need for additional treatment processes for drinking water
utilities, potentially leading to higher energy demand and capital and operating costs. For wastewater utilities, changes
in receiving water quality may lead to more stringent discharge requirements and the need for more advanced effluent
treatment. Review the drinking water brief to learn more about how East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) plans to
diversify its water supply to alleviate water quality issues related to severe storms and increasing temperatures. Review the
wastewater brief to learn more about how Spartanburg Water coordinates reservoir releases with the wastewater system to
limit water quality issues associated with wastewater discharge into water bodies.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
PLANNING
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the JM|, gป or jpl icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
Update fire models and fire management plans for any water supply sources in fire-prone watersheds
to incorporate any changes in fire frequency, magnitude and extent due to projected future climatic
conditions.
Conduct sea-level rise and storm surge modeling. Incorporate resulting inundation mapping and estimates
of saltwater intrusion into groundwater or estuaries into land use, water supply and facility planning.
COST
$-$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
Group: WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION (DW/WW)
page 2 of 3
PLANNING (continued)
Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or salinity)
and costs of resultant changes in treatment.
Model groundwater conditions, including saltwater intrusion into aquifers associated with sea-level
rise, and evaluate feasibility of implementing intrusion barriers.
i Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training.
t Develop emergency response plans to deal with the relevant natural disasters and include
stakeholder engagement and communication.
1 Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change adaptation.
COST
$
$
$
$
$-$$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Practice fire management plans in the watershed, such as mechanical thinning, weed control, selective
harvesting, controlled burns and creation of fire breaks.
Manage reservoir water quality by investing in practices such as lake aeration to minimize algal blooms
due to higher temperatures.
^P Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
|H Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g.,
^^ precipitation, catchment runoff).
^p Monitor surface water conditions, including water quality in receiving bodies.
Monitor vegetation changes in watersheds.
^y Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water, including use of greywater in homes and businesses.
Reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with weather-linked controls).
tf& Practice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak detection
3r^ and water loss monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or rainwater
^ harvesting tanks.
COST
$-$$
$$
$
$
$
$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
ฉAcquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
buffer against sediment and nutrient inflows into waterways.
ฉImplement green infrastructure on site and in municipalities (e.g., green roofs, filter strips and more
permeable building materials) to reduce runoff and associated pollutant loads into waterways.
i@) Implement watershed management practices to limit pollutant runoff to reservoirs.
Implement or retrofit source control measures at treatment plants to deal with altered influent flow and
quality at treatment plants.
jpH Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^ times of service disruption or shortage.
Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
^H Increase water storage capacity to accommodate increased, earlier runoff. This would include silt
^^ removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
Install low-head dams to separate saltwater wedge from intakes upstream in the freshwater pool.
Implement barriers and aquifer recharge to limit effects of saltwater intrusion. Consider use of reclaimed
water to create saltwater intrusion barriers.
COST
$$$
$-$$$
$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 3
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
Group: WATER QUALITY DEGRADATION (DW/WW)
page 3 of 3
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
l?i| Increase capacity for wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment and discharge, including
^^ redundancies to hedge against infrastructure losses and disruptions.
@ Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity).
Install effluent cooling systems (e.g., chillers, wetlands or trees for shading).
$$$
$$$
$-$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
-------
ERA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
LOW FLOW CONDITIONS & ALTERED WATER QUALITY (WW)
Return to Introduction
Climate models project that in the future, many areas are likely to receive less annual precipitation, but that when precipitation
falls, it will be in fewer, more extreme rainfall events. The number and intensity of heavy precipitation events (top 1 % or
greater of events) have been increasing in many regions, and the volume of precipitation from the heaviest daily rain events
has increased across the United States. Since 1991, the amount of rain falling in very heavy precipitation events has been
above average across most of the U.S. (USGCRP 2014). Reduction in annual precipitation will lead to lower streamflows in
many locations, which may lead to diminished water quality. Projected increases in algal growth resulting from the higher
temperatures may further impact water quality. Turbidity from sediment washing downstream following storm events also
impacts water quality, particularly in areas where fires have diminished the ability of landscapes to hold soil.
Diminished water quality in receiving waters may lead to more stringent requirements for wastewater discharges, leading to
higher treatment costs and the need for capita I improvements. In some locations, lower flows and higher temperatures may
impact ecosystems that are sensitive to temperature, requiring utilities to cool effluent prior to discharge.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
By the end of the century, the average U.S. temperature is projected to increase by approximately 5ฐF to 10 ฐF under the
higher emissions scenario and by approximately 3ฐF to 5 ฐF under the lower emissions scenario (USGCRP 2014).
Water availability may decrease on the order of 15% to 30% in the Southwest by mid-century (Milly et al. 2005,2008). Climate
models consistently project decreased water volumes and increased temperatures, which will lead to more frequent algal
blooms and lower volumes in surface water bodies, and consequently increase pollutant concentrations.
Climate models project that future precipitation will decrease in southern areas, particularly the Southwest, making them
drier (USGCRP 2014).
For most of the U.S., precipitation intensity (e.g., precipitation per rainy day) is projected to increase by mid-century (USGCRP
2014). Intense precipitation events can impair water quality through nonpoint source pollution and soil erosion. More intense
runoff from heavy precipitation events generally increases river sediment, nitrogen and pollutant loads.
Changing land cover, flood frequencies and flood magnitudes are expected to increase mobilization of sediments
in large river basins. Changes in sediment transport are projected to increase by 25% to 55% over the next century
(Hearing etal. 2005).
Thermal stratification of lakes and reservoirs is increasing with higher air and water temperatures. Mixing may be eliminated
in shallow lakes, decreasing dissolved oxygen and releasing excess nutrients, heavy metals and other toxins into lake waters.
These conditions could increase the length of time pollutants remain in water bodies (USGCRP 2014).
By 2070, the length of the fire season could increase by 2 to 3 weeks in the southwestern United States (Barnett et al. 2004).
Burned areas result in sediment-laden runoff and siltation of water bodies.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
/^^ ^^^
Click on theBBorrJicon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
COST
Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and
costs of resultant changes in treatment. (See example below)
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
-------
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
LOW FLOW CONDITIONS & ALTERED WATER QUALITY (WW)
page 2 of 2
Dl
PLANNING
^ Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
^ Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
^ adaptation.
COST
$
$-$$
*S 1 OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES 1 COST
^p Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
!ป, Monitor surface water conditions, including water quality in receiving bodies. (See example
^^ below)
\y Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water to decrease discharges to receiving waters.
$
$
$$-$$$
*S 1 CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES 1 COST
jjjk Acquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
^ buffer against floods and sediment and nutrient inflows into source waterways.
ฉImplement green infrastructure on site and in municipalities (e.g., green roofs, filter strips and more
permeable building materials) to reduce runoff and associated pollutant loads into waterways.
IPH Increase capacity for wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment and discharge, including
^^ redundancies to hedge against infrastructure losses and disruptions.
jS| Increase treatment capabilities and capacities to address more stringent treament requirements
^ (e.g., tertiary treatment).
Install effluent cooling systems (e.g., chillers, wetlands or trees for shading).
$$$
$$$
$-$$
EXAMPLE
Spartanburg Water is a public water and wastewater utility in South Carolina that is composed of two distinct legal
entities: Spartanburg Water System (SWS) and Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District (SSSD). Future droughts of increased
frequency and severity may affect wastewater system operations due to changed water quality in outflow streams. Several
of Spartanburg Water's wastewater treatment plants discharge into small streams, where wastewater discharges may
constitute up to 80% of streamflow. With prolonged drought, future permit limits for these facilities may be affected if the
7Q10 (i.e., lowest streamflow for 7 consecutive days that occurs once every 10 years) changes for the receiving streams. In
an adjacent county, similar conditions resulted in the wastewater utility upgrading to tertiary treatment. Besides evaluating
the feasibility of modifying future treatment at 3 of its 10 wastewater treatment plants, Spartanburg Water is taking an
integrated approach and considering water supply in conjunction with wastewater treatment. For example, the largest
of its 10 wastewater treatment plants is located just downstream of the Blalock Reservoir, its second largest water supply
reservoir. Coordinating releases from the reservoir with the wastewater system can help ameliorate water quality issues
associated with wastewater discharge (EPA 201 Oa).
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
-------
ERA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
SALTWATER INTRUSION INTO AQUIFERS (DW)
Projected sea-level rise, combined with higher water demand from coastal communities due to increasing temperatures,
can lead to saltwater intrusion, both in coastal groundwater aquifers and in estuaries. This combination may reduce water
quality and increase treatment costs for water treatment facilities drawing from coastal aquifers or from surface intakes
in tidal estuaries near the saltwater line. Desalination plants may be needed to treat water with higher salt content, which
would also increase costs.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Climate change induced sea-level rise is due to two components: thermal expansion of the oceans as they warm and inputs
from the melting of glaciers and ice sheets (Antarctica, Greenland) on land. The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report estimates
that globally, sea level will rise 0.26 to 0.82 meters (10.2 to 32.3 inches) over the course of the 21st century (IPCC 2013). Other
scientists estimate that global mean sea-level rise could reach 6.6 feet by the end of the century (Parris et al. 2012).
Local observed sea level is due to a combination of factors including changes in global mean sea level, regional differences
due to the influence of ocean currents, salinity and other local dynamics such as subsidence, and in some cases, tectonic
uplift (common in Alaska). A recent study demonstrates that, over the past 60 years, sea level along the Gulf of Mexico has
been rising substantially faster (5 to 10 mm/year) than the global trend (1.7 mm/year) due to land subsidence. Subsidence is
also responsible for faster than average sea-level rise in the Mid-Atlantic region. For example, subsidence has increased from
2 to 3 cm in the past 40 years in southern New Jersey due to groundwater withdrawals (Parris etal. 2012). In the Northeast,
sea-level rise is expected to exceed the global average by up to 4 inches per century.
Along with sea-level rise, the brackish water line in tidal estuaries can move upstream, potentially impacting intakes. This is a
concern, for example, for the intakes on the Delaware River for utilities in the Camden, New Jersey area.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
PLANNING
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the JHJ, wm or rl icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
Conduct sea-level rise and storm surge modeling. Incorporate resulting inundation mapping and
estimates of saltwater intrusion into groundwater or estuaries into land use, water supply and facility
planning.
1^1 Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or
^^ salinity) and costs of resultant changes in treatment.
jB| Model groundwater conditions, including saltwater intrusion into aquifers associated with sea-
^ level rise, and evaluate feasibility of implementing intrusion barriers.
@ Conduct training for personnel in climate change impacts and adaptation.
Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change adaptation. |
$
$
$-$$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
|0| Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water, including use of greywater in homes and
^ businesses.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
-------
SEPA
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
SALTWATER INTRUSION INTO AQUIFERS (DW)
page 2 of 2
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with weather-linked controls).
Practice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak
^ detection and water loss monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or
rainwater harvesting tanks.
$$-$$$
$-$$
APITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
^x\ Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^^ times of service disruption or shortage.
|S| Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
^ and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
Install low-head dams to separate saltwater wedge from intakes upstream in the freshwater pool.
Implement barriers and aquifer recharge to limit effects of saltwater intrusion. Consider use of
reclaimed water to create saltwater intrusion barriers. (See example below)
|งg| Increase treatment capabilities and capacities to address decreased water quality due to saltwater
^^ intrusion.
COST
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE
In the first half of the 20th century, the rate of groundwater extraction in the Central and West Coast Basins in the Los
Angeles area doubled the rate of natural replenishment, causing severe overdraft and resulting in the lowering of
groundwater levels to approximately 100 feet below sea level. To address this problem, in 1951 the Los Angeles County
Flood Control District (LACFCD) tested a method to block salt water intrusion by injecting potable water into the aquifer
through an abandoned water well in Manhattan Beach. The test injection successfully built up pressure in the confined
aquifer, blocking the intrusion of seawater (i.e., groundwater injection barrier). Following this experiment, the LACFCD
constructed three barrier projects: the West Coast Basin Barrier Project, the Dominguez Gap Barrier Project, and the
Alamitos Gap Barrier Project. Currently, both potable water and recycled municipal wastewater (treated by microfiltration,
reverse osmosis, and advanced oxidation in some cases, which involves ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide) are used
in the barriers. The water is injected into the aquifers to depths up to 900 feet. These barrier projects have been successfully
protecting freshwater aquifers in the Los Angeles Basin from saltwater intrusion for more than 50 years (Johnson 2007).
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
-------
ERA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
ALTERED SURFACE WATER QUALITY (DW)
Return to I
Introduction
Climate models project that the average temperature in the United States is going to increase, as will the number of
extreme hot days. Throughout the United States, observed temperatures have been increasing in all four seasons. The
extreme heat events of 2011 and 2012 set records for highest monthly average temperatures, hottest daytime maximum
temperatures and warmest nighttime minimum temperatures (Karl etal. 2012). Higher temperatures can lead to
algal blooms, which compromise source water quality and may require more advanced treatment. Compounding the
degradation of water quality, turbidity and pollution inputs may increase due to extreme storm and high flow events, and
from altered or reduced vegetation cover in watersheds. These water quality impacts will drive the need for additional
drinking water treatment processes, potentially leading to higher energy demand and capital and operating costs.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Average annual temperatures and the frequency of heat waves are projected to increase. By the end of the century, the
average U.S. temperature is projected to increase by approximately 5ฐF to 10ฐF under the higher emissions scenario and
by approximately 3ฐF to 5ฐF under the lower emissions scenario (USGCRP 2014).
Rising air and water temperatures can cause thermal stratification of lakes and reservoirs to increase. Higher temperatures
may eliminate mixing in shallow lakes, decreasing dissolved oxygen and releasing excess nutrients, heavy metals and
other pollutants into lake waters.
Climate models project that future precipitation will decrease in southern areas of the U.S., particularly the Southwest,
making them drier (USGCRP 2014). Lower volumes in surface water bodies, coupled with rising temperatures, may lead to
higher pollutant concentrations and algal blooms in surface water.
Precipitation intensity (e.g., precipitation per rainy day) is projected to increase by mid-century for most of the U.S.
(USGCRP 2014). This can be expected to lead to more high flow events and flooding.
By 2070, the length of the fire season could increase by 2 to 3 weeks in the southwestern U.S. (Barnettetal. 2004). Altered
or reduced vegetation cover in watersheds, coupled with extreme storm and high flow events, will lead to increased
runoff, turbidity and pollution inputs into surface waters.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the|Mi,B^งori^icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
Update fire models and fire management plans for any water supply sources in fire-prone watersheds
to incorporate any changes in fire frequency, magnitude and extent due to projected future climatic
conditions.
Conduct sea-level rise and storm surge modeling. Incorporate resulting inundation mapping and
estimates of saltwater intrusion into groundwater or estuaries into land use, water supply and facility
planning.
ฉDevelop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and
costs of resultant changes in treatment. (See example below)
@ Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
OST
$-$$
$
$
$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
-------
SEPA
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
ALTERED SURFACE WATER QUALITY (DW)
page 2 of 2
PLANNING (continued)
I Develop emergency response plans to deal with the relevant natural disasters and include
* stakeholder engagement and communication.
& Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
"adaptation.
COST
$
$-$$
PERATIONAL S
Practice fire management plans in the watershed, such as mechanical thinning, weed control, selective
harvesting, controlled burns and creation of fire breaks.
Manage reservoir water quality by investing in practices such as lake aeration to minimize algal
blooms due to higher temperatures.
|ie| Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g.,
^ precipitation, catchment runoff).
Monitor vegetation changes in watersheds.
APITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
(j|li Implement watershed management practices to limit pollutant runoff to reservoirs.
Implement or retrofit source control measures that address altered influent flow and quality at
treatment plants.
Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
conjunctive use and stormwater capture. (See example below)
Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
times of service disruption or shortage.
Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity).
$-$$
$$
$
$
COST
$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE
Headquartered in Oakland, California, the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) receives 90% of its water supply from
the 577 square mile Mokelumne River Watershed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Pardeeand Camanche reservoirs on
the Mokelumne River provide water supply, flood protection, hydropower, resource management and recreation. EBMUD
manages the reservoirs as an integrated system, using watershed management and lake aeration to help control water
quality. Water from Pardee reservoir is treated at EBMUD's plants which were designed to treat water with low turbidity.
Climate change may increase the frequency of severe storms resulting in higher turbidity from its source waters. There is
also a concern that increasing temperatures will affect water quality by promoting algal growth and byproducts such as
taste and odor compounds in surface water bodies, increase water temperature and increase customer water demand.
Changes in raw water quality will reduce EBMUD's ability to treat water and increase the cost of production; therefore
EBMUD is currently investigating pre-treatment options to address water quality issues (Wallis et al. 2008, US EPA 201 Oa).
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
-------
ERA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
ALTERED SURFACE WATER QUALITY (WW)
Return to Introduction
Average temperature in the United States is projected to increase, as will the number of extreme hot days. Observed
temperatures have been increasing in all four seasons. The extreme heat events of 2011 and 2012 set records for highest
monthly average, hottest daytime maximum temperatures and warmest nighttime minimum temperatures (Karl et al. 2012).
Higher temperatures can lead to algal blooms, which compromise receiving water quality, leading to more stringent discharge
requirements and the need for more advanced treatment. In some locations, higher temperatures may impact ecosystems
that are sensitive to temperature, necessitating effluent cooling prior to discharge. Finally, biological wastewater treatment
processes may be impaired because of changes in the efficacy of microbial populations due to higher treatment plant and
influent temperatures on hot days.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Average annual temperatures and the frequency of heat waves are projected to increase. By the end of the century, the
average United States temperature is projected to increase by approximately 5ฐF to 10ฐF under the higher emissions
scenario and by approximately 3ฐF to 5ฐF under the lower emissions scenario (USGCRP 2014).
Rising air and water temperatures can cause thermal stratification of lakes and reservoirs to increase. Higher temperatures
may eliminate mixing in shallow lakes, decreasing dissolved oxygen and releasing excess nutrients, heavy metals and
other pollutants into lake waters. This changing water quality could impact discharge permit limits.
Climate models project that future precipitation will decrease in southern areas of the U.S., particularly the Southwest,
making them drier (USGCRP 2014). Lower volumes in surface water bodies, coupled with rising temperatures, may lead to
higher pollutant concentrations and algal blooms in surface water.
Precipitation intensity (e.g., precipitation per rainy day) is projected to increase by mid-century for most of the U.S.
(USGCRP 2014). This can be expected to lead to more high flow events and flooding.
Moreover, by 2070, the length of the fire season could increase by 2 to 3 weeks in the southwestern U.S. (Barnett et al.
2004). Altered or reduced vegetation cover in watersheds, coupled with extreme storm and high flow events, will lead to
increased runoff, turbidity and pollution inputs into surface waters.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to checkoff options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Clickon theซ|ปorr8icon to reviewthe relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
Conduct training for personnel in climate change impacts and adaptation.
Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation.
COST
$
$-$$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
Monitor surface water conditions, including water quality in receiving bodies. (See example
below)
Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water to decrease discharges to receiving waters.
$
$
$$-$$$
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page 2 of 2
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Acquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
buffer against floods and sediment and nutrient inflows into source waterways.
Implement green infrastructure on site and in municipalities (e.g., green roofs, filter strips and more
permeable building materials) to reduce runoff and associated pollutant loads into waterways.
Increase capacity for wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment and discharge, including
redundancies to hedge against infrastructure losses and disruptions.
Increase treatment capabilities and capacities to address more stringent treatment requirements
(e.g., tertiary treatment).
$$$
$-$$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE
Spartanburg Water is a public water and wastewater utility in South Carolina that is composed of two distinct legal
entities: Spa rtanburg Water System (SWS) and Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District (SSSD). Future droughts of increased
frequency and severity may affect wastewater system operations due to changed water quality in outflow streams. Several
of Spartanburg Water's wastewater treatment plants discharge into small streams, where wastewater discharges may
constitute up to 80% of streamflow. With prolonged drought, future permit limits for these facilities may be affected if the
7Q10 (i.e., lowest streamflow for 7 consecutive days that occurs once every 10 years) changes for the receiving streams. In
an adjacent county, similar conditions resulted in the wastewater utility upgrading to tertiary treatment. Besides evaluating
the feasibility of modifying future treatment at 3 of its 10 wastewater treatment plants, Spartanburg Water is taking an
integrated approach and considering water supply in conjunction with wastewater treatment. For example, the largest
of its 10 wastewater treatment plants is located just downstream of the Blalock Reservoir, its second largest water supply
reservoir. Coordinating releases from the reservoir with the wastewater system can help ameliorate water quality issues
associated with wastewater discharge (EPA 201 Oa).
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Group: FLOODS (DW/WW)
Return to Introduction
Extreme daily precipitation events are projected to increase everywhere, even in areas where average annual precipitation
is expected to decline. In the next several decades, storm surges and high tides could combine with sea-level rise and land
subsidence to further increase flooding in many coastal regions (USGCRP 2014). The impacts to water utilities from flooding
associated with climate change maybe driven or forced by either high flows from intense precipitation events or from storm
surges associated with coastal storms in combination with sea-level rise. Clicking on either the drinking water or wastewater
icon next to each impact will bring you to that particular Strategy Brief. Clicking on the Green Infrastructure icon will bring you
to that Sustainability Brief.
High Flow Events and Flooding
While in some locations average annual precipitation is expected to decrease, climate models consistently show that across
the United States, precipitation will increasingly occur in more concentrated extreme events. These intense precipitation
events may challenge current infrastructure for water management and flood control. When these protections fail, inundation
may damage infrastructure such as treatment plants, intake facilities and water conveyance and distribution systems, causing
disruptions in service. Episodic peak flows into reservoirs will strain the capacity of these systems, and inflow will be of lesser
quality due to soil erosion and contaminants from overland flows. Wastewater infrastructure is particularly at risk to flooding
when these extreme events occur due to the typically low elevation of facilities in the watershed. In addition, more extreme
events can lead to more overflows in combined systems and reduce the capacity of sewer systems already impacted by inflow
and infiltration. Review the drinking water brief to learn more about how New York City is acquiring forested watershed lands
to manage increased runoff from heavy precipitation events, how the Town of Jamestown, CO is planning to rebuild its water
treatment plant following extreme flooding in Colorado and how the Waynesboro, Tennessee drinking water plant hardened
and waterproofed its facility to adapt to extreme flooding events. Review the wastewater briefs to learn more about how
the city of Chicago implemented a green infrastructure program to manage stormwater runoff to reduce combined sewer
overflows (CSOs) and how Metro Vancouver in Canada is planning to separate combined sewers to reduce and eventually
eliminate CSOs.
Flooding from Coastal Storm Surges
Coastal storm surges may increase in frequency and extent where sea-level rise is combined with projected increases in
storm frequency or intensity. This combination results in inundation of coastal areas, disruption of service and damage to
infrastructure such as treatment plants, intake facilities and water conveyance and distribution systems, pump stations and
sewer infrastructure. Water treatment plants are typically not as vulnerable as wastewater plants to coastal flooding, as they
are often located at higher elevations. However, desalination plants would be very vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm
surges, and intrusion of saltwater into wastewater outfall systems may cause backflows or necessitate higher pumping costs.
Moreover, cities built on coastal estuaries may not have very much high ground and could be strongly affected by changes
in sea level or storm surge magnitude. Review the drinking water brief to learn more about how New York City is considering
constructing storm barriers to protect the city during storm surge events. Review the wastewater brief to learn more about
how the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority considered sea-level rise and storm surge impacts when constructing a new
wastewater treatment plant and how the Southern Monmouth Regional Sewer Authority has adapted to flooding from storm
surge by constructing mobile pumping stations to safely store equipment.
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WATER UTILITIES
Group: FLOODS (DW/WW)
page 2 of 3
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
f^SJ^ jgS&> ^^^
Click on the IHJ, w9 or f^ icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
PLANNING
Integrate flood management and modeling into land use planning.
Conduct extreme precipitation events analyses with climate change to understand the risk of impacts to
the wastewater collection system.
Conduct sea-level rise and storm surge modeling. Incorporate resulting inundation mapping and estimates
of saltwater intrusion into groundwater or estuaries into land use, water supply and facility planning.
jป| Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or
^ salinity) and costs of resultant changes in treatment.
HH Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in times
^ of service disruption or shortage.
^ Plan for alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
Adopt insurance mechanisms and other financial instruments, such as catastrophe bonds, to protect
against financial losses associated with infrastructure losses.
^p Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
j^l Ensure that emergency response plans deal with flooding and include stakeholder engagement
^^ and communication.
^P Establish mutual aid agreements with neighboring utilities.
Hi| Identify and protect vulnerable facilities, including developing operational strategies that isolate these
^^ facilities and re-route flows.
Integrate climate-related risks, including flooding and storm surge, into capital improvement plans to
build facility resilience against current and potential future risks.
@) Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change adaptation.
Implement policies and procedures for post-flood repairs.
COST
$
$$
$
$
$
-$$
$
$
-$$$
$
$
$
$
$
-$$
$
-$$
$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
i Monitor and inspect the integrity of existing infrastructure.
Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g.,
precipitation, catchment runoff, storm intensity, sea level).
> Monitor surface water conditions, including stream flow and water quality.
COST
$-$$
$
$
$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
(Acquire and manage coastal ecosystems, such as coastal wetlands, to attenuate storm surge and
reduce coastal flooding ("soft protection").
Acquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
buffer against floods and sediment and nutrient inflows into source waterways.
i Set aside land to support future flood-proofing needs (e.g., berms, dikes and retractable gates).
Implement green infrastructure on site and in municipalities (e.g., green roofs, filter strips and more
permeable building materials) to reduce runoff and associated pollutant loads into waterways.
COST
$$$
$$$
$$$
$-$$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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Group: FLOODS (DW/WW)
page 3 of 3
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Ip^l Implement or retrofit source control measures that address altered influent flow and quality at
^"^ treatment plants.
Build flood barriers, flood control dams, levees and related structures to protect infrastructure.
Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
|ป, Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^^ times of service disruption or shortage.
HH Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
^ and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
|H Establish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support operations
^ in case of loss of power.
Relocate facilities (e.g., treatment plants) to higher ground.
Improve pumps for backflow prevention.
HH Increase capacity for wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment and discharge, including
^ redundancies to hedge against infrastructure losses and disruptions.
@ Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or salinity).
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
$$
$$$
$$$
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HIGH FLOW EVENTS AND FLOODING (DW)
Intense precipitation events may occur more frequently, concentrating the annual total rainfall into episodes that may
challenge current infrastructure for water management and flood control. When these protections fail, inundation may
disrupt service and damage infrastructure such as treatment plants, intake facilities and water conveyance and distribution
systems. Episodic peak flows into reservoirs will strain the capacity of these systems. Furthermore, inflow will be of lesser
quality due to soil erosion and contaminants from overland flows, leading to treatment challenges and degraded conditions
in reservoirs.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Since 1991, the amount of rain falling in very heavy precipitation events has been above average across most of the
United States (USGCRP 2014). This observed trend has been greatest in the Northeast, Midwest and Great Plains -
projections for these regions indicate that 30% more precipitation will fall in very heavy rain events relative to the
1901 -1960 average (Karl et al. 2009).
Heavy downpours are increasing nationally, with especially large increases in the Midwest and Northeast (Kunkel et al.
2012, USGCRP 2014). Precipitation intensity (e.g., precipitation per rainy day) is projected to continue to increase by mid-
century for most of the U.S. This change is expected even for regions that are projected to experience decreases in mean
annual precipitation, such as the Southwest (Kunkel et al. 2012, Wehner 2013, USGCRP 2014).
The increasing intensity of precipitation events can be expected to lead to more flooding and high flow events in rivers.
For example, by the end of the century, New York City is projected to experience almost twice as many days of extreme
precipitation that cause flood damage (Ntelekoset al. 2010). For the U.S. overall, a recent assessment of flood risks found
that the odds of experiencing a 100-year flood are expected to double by 2030 (USGCRP 2014).
The intensity, frequency and duration of North Atlantic hurricanes has increased in recent decades, and the intensity of
these storms is likely to increase in this century (USGCRP 2014).
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
f5& jy5^ ^ฃ^
Click on thelMi.B'Por^T'icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
Integrate flood management and modeling into land use planning.
gi^ Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and
^ costs of resultant changes in treatment.
|S| Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^ times of service disruption or shortage.
i|j|| Plan for alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
Adopt insurance mechanisms and other financial instruments, such as catastrophe bonds, to protect
against financial losses associated with infrastructure losses.
^p Conduct training for personnel in climate change impacts and adaptation.
ฉEnsure that emergency response plans deal with flooding contingencies and include stakeholder
engagement and communication.
^3 Establish mutual aid agreements with neighboring utilities.
$
$
$$-$$$
$
$
$
$
$
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HIGH FLOW EVENTS AND FLOODING (DW)
page 2 of 3
PLANNING (continued)
ฉIdentify and protect vulnerable facilities, including developing operational strategies that isolate
these facilities and re-route flows.
Integrate climate-related risks into capital improvement plans, including flood-proofing options to
build facility resilience against current and potential future risks.
^ Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change adaptation.
Implement policies and procedures for post-flood repairs. (See example 1 below)
COST
$-$$
$
$-$$
$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
^p Monitorand inspect the integrity of existing infrastructure.
g^ Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g.,
^^ precipitation, catchment runoff).
|y| Monitor surface water conditions, including streamflow and water quality.
COST
$-$$
$
$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Acquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
^ buffer against floods and sediment and nutrient inflows into source waterways. (See example 2
below)
^p Set aside land to support future flood-proofing needs (e.g., berms, dikes and retractable gates).
e Implement green infrastructure on site and in municipalities (e.g., green roofs, filter strips and more
permeable building materials) to reduce runoff and associated pollutant loads into waterways.
Implement or retrofit source control measures that address altered influent flow and quality at
treatment plants.
Build flood barriers, flood control dams, levees and related structures to protect infrastructure. (See
example 3 below)
IfH tfj| Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
^^ ^^ conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
ฉExpand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
times of service disruption or shortage.
^H Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs and
'**' construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
ฉEstablish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support operations
in case of loss of power.
@> Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity).
COST
$$$
$$$
$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
EXAMPLE 1
New York City is one of five U.S. cities without a filtration plant processing its drinking water. The 1986 Safe Drinking Water
Act mandates that such cities must receive a special waiver, known as a Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD), to
continue to do so. In order to maintain water quality and protect land along reservoirs without the filtration plant, the city
has developed the $462 million Watershed Protection Program. The city currently owns nearly 114,000 acres within the
watersheds that supply the city's drinking water, but over the next decade, the Department of Environmental Protection will
seek to purchase an additional 60,000 - 75,000 acres in key locations to protect even more of the land along the reservoirs.
Moreover, as privately owned forests and farms cover two-thirds of the watershed land area, the city is working with
foresters to establish sustainable forest management plans and with farmers to minimize fertilizers and manure washing
into waterways. This acquisition of new protected areas and land management is an important adaptation to potentially
increasing future precipitation intensity and runoff into waterways that supply the city's drinking water (NYC 2011).
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EXAMPLE 2
As a result of intense precipitation from September 9-15,2013, the state of Colorado experienced extensive flooding
and landslides. This event impacted over a third of the state, but one of the most severe cases of infrastructure destruction
occurred in the Town of Jamestown, a small mountain community located in Boulder County. The storm event caused
the Jamestown's water source, James Creek, to reach three times the 100-year flow. Flood damage (erosion, scour, debris
inundation, and loss of integral ground), rendered the water treatment plant inoperable, destroyed approximately half of
the distribution system, and forced relocation of approximately 90% of the residents for nearly a year.
Following the flood, Jamestown worked with local, state and federal sources to obtain assistance for response and recovery,
and to secure funding sources for rebuilding and future flood protection. EPA, in cooperation with Jamestown conducted
a water system needs assessment, and provided recommendations for buttressing the water system to withstand similar
future flooding event. EPA investigated both short-term and long term needs and provided recommendations for activities
that provide additional protections to the utility to withstand similar flooding events. Recommendations include: installing
flood-proofing measures at the water treatment plant, providing backup power, developing an alternative raw water source,
installing distribution system valves designed to prevent draining of the water distribution system, and installing sensors
and alarm indicators for water levels in James Creek that are tied to the water treatment plant. Jamestown is pursuing State
Disaster Grants to incorporate these recommendations into its water system.
EXAMPLE 3
The water treatment plant in the small community of Waynesboro, TN was driven to implement physical protection measures
at the facility after being impacted by a number of extreme flooding events. In 2003, the Waynesboro Water Treatment Plant
(WWTP) flooded, resulting in damage to the building and its equipment. The plant closed three days for cleanup operations
and to dry and repair pumps. The plant flooded again in 2004 and extensive damage caused a four-day shutdown.
In 2005, WWTP received a $148,000 Flood Mitigation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This allowed the plant
to relocate laboratory and office space to the second level, remove first level windows, install water tight doors and raise
the raw water intake motors and electrical equipment by four feet. These adaptation measures helped Waynesboro to
avoid major damage during a 2010 flood. The flood levels were higher in 2010 than in 2003 and 2004, however due to the
measures that were put in place, the plant resumed normal operations in only 18 hours after the flood (EPA 2012). A second
Flood Mitigation Grant of $450,000 is currently being used to replace the intake lines, repair damage to the lagoon and big
basin, relocate chemical lines to the basin, secure chemical tanks and replace a dated air conditioning system.
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HIGH FLOW EVENTS AND FLOODING (WW)
Return to Introduction
While in some locations, average annual precipitation is expected to decrease, climate models consistently show that across
the United States, precipitation increasingly will occur in more concentrated extreme events. Because wastewater facilities are
often located at low points in the watershed, wastewater infrastructure is particularly at risk to flooding when these extreme
events occur. In addition, more extreme events can lead to more overflows in combined systems and can tax the capacity of
separate sewer systems already impacted by inflow and infiltration.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Since 1991, the amount of rain falling in very heavy precipitation events has been above average across most of the
U.S. (USGCRP 2014). This observed trend has been greatest in the Northeast, Midwest and Great Plains - projections for
these regions indicate that 30% more precipitation will fall in very heavy rain events relative to the 1901 -1960 average
(Karl etal. 2009).
Heavy downpours are increasing nationally, with especially large increases in the Midwest and Northeast (Kunkel et al.
2012, USGCRP 2014). Precipitation intensity (e.g., precipitation per rainy day) is projected to continue to increase by mid-
century for most of the U.S. This change is expected even for regions that are projected to experience decreases in mean
annual precipitation, such as the Southwest (Kunkel et al. 2012, Wehner 2012, Weubbles et al. 2012, USGCRP 2014).
This increasing intensity can be expected to lead to more flooding and high flow events in rivers. New York City, for
example, is projected to experience almost twice as many days of extreme precipitation that cause flood damage by the
end of the century as today (Ntelekos et al. 2010).
The intensity, frequency and duration of North Atlantic hurricanes has increased in recent decades, and the intensity of
these storms is likely to continue to increase in this century (USGCRP 2014).
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the ^|or^| icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
Integrate flood management and modeling into land use planning.
Conduct extreme precipitation events analyses with climate change to understand the risk of impacts
to the wastewater collection system.
^H Plan for alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
@ Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
|ซ| Ensure that emergency response plans deal with flooding and include stakeholder engagement
^and communication.
Integrate climate-related risks into capital improvement plans, including flood-proofing options to
build facility resilience against current and potential future risks.
^p Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change adaptation.
Implement policies and procedures for post-flood repairs.
COST
$
$-$$
$
$
$
$
$-$$
$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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HIGH FLOW EVENTS AND FLOODING (WW)
page 2 of 3
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
i Monitor and inspect the integrity of existing infrastructure.
i Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
. Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g., precipitation,
catchment runoff).
COST
$-$$
$
$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
ฉAcquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
buffer against floods and sediment and nutrient inflows into source waterways.
^p Set aside land to support future flood-proofing needs (e.g., berms, dikes and retractable gates).
Implement green infrastructure on site and in municipalities (e.g., green roofs, filter strips and more
jjy permeable building materials) to reduce runoff and associated pollutant loads into waterways. (See
example 1 below)
Build flood barriers, flood control dams, levees, and related structures to protect infrastructure.
ฉEstablish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support operations in
case of loss of power.
^ Increase capacity for wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment and discharge, including
^^ redundancies to hedge against infrastructure losses and disruptions. (See examples 1 and2 below)
COST
$$$
$$$
$-$$$
-$$$
$-$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE 1
Like many cities that installed sewage collection systems prior to the 1930s, Chicago has a system that conveys both sewage
and stormwater runoff. Large precipitation events can overwhelm the system, leading to combined sewer overflows (CSOs)
that result in sewage flowing into the Chicago River, which degrades water quality in Lake Michigan. Chicago is building a
deep tunnel system to expand capacity during flood events. This system will not be completed until 2019, and there are
also concerns that extreme storm events will overwhelm even this expanded infrastructure. The city has therefore begun
plans to implement a program to encourage the implementation of green infrastructure throughout the city, including:
A Stormwater Management Ordinance mandates that as of 2008, any development that involves an area of 15,000 sq ft or
creates a parking lot of 7,500 square feet must retain the first half inch of rainfall on site or reduce the prior imperviousness
by 15%.
The Green Streets Program that has increased the proportion of the city shaded by tree canopy by 15%.
The Green Roof Grant Program and Green Roof Improvement Fund that offers incentives for building green roofs. In 2007,
the Chicago City Council allocated $500,000 to the Fund, and authorized the Department of Planning and Development
to award grants of up to $100,000 to green roof projects within the City's Central Loop District.
The Green Alley Program that began in 2006 and has started a series of pilot projects to test a variety of permeable paving
materials to reduce flooding in alleys and increase infiltration of runoff. The City estimates that as of 2006,1,900 miles of
public alleys have been paved with 3,500 acres of impervious cover.
These green infrastructure programs have been very successful. As of 2010, nearly 600,000 trees have been added to
the cityscapeand more than 4 million sqft of green roofs have been installed on 300 buildings (U.S. EPA 2010). Green
infrastructure can help both attenuate stormwater runoff and moderate the temperature of the water entering surface
waters, and is thus an important climate change adaptation strategy.
EXAMPLE 2
Metro Vancouver (Canada) provides regional wastewater transmission and treatment services to 18 municipal members,
managed across four sewerage areas. Two of these sewerage areas are partially serviced by combined sewers. Historically,
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these combined sewers have been overwhelmed during large precipitation events, resulting in combined sewer overflows
(CSOs) and untreated sewage discharging into receiving waters including Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River. In the future,
more frequent and intense storms projected due to climate change may increase the occurrence of CSOs.
To address these issues, Metro Vancouver developed a Liquid Waste Management Plan that was approved by the provincial
regulatory agency in 2002. The plan included a number of actions such as separating sanitary and stormwater systems
and broad implementation of green infrastructure projects. To further address the risk of climate change impacts,
including more frequent and intense rain events, Metro Vancouver completed a climate vulnerability assessment in 2008
via partnership with Engineers Canada, the national organization representing the provincial and territorial engineering
associations. Project outcomes were incorporated into the Integrated Liquid Waste and Resource Management Plan
(ILWRMP), which was approved by the provincial regulatory agency in 2011. The ILWRMP reconfirms the priority of the
ongoing sewer separation. Between 2010 and 2012, Metro Vancouver invested over $100 million dollars to reduce and
eventually eliminate CSOs. The ILWRMP also identifies a number of complementary actions with specific targets that reduce
the risk of CSOs, including major treatment plant upgrades and further enhancements to promote green infrastructure,
source control and management of inflow and infiltration.
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FLOODING FROM COASTAL STORM SURGES (DW)
Return to Introduction I
Global mean sea level has risen by 8 inches since 1880 and is projected to rise another 1 to 4 feet by 2100 (USGCRP
2014). In locations where sea-level rise is combined with projected increases in storm frequency or intensity, coastal
storm surge may increase in frequency and extent. This combination results in inundation of coastal areas and damage
to infrastructure such as treatment plants, intake facilities, water conveyance and distribution systems, and may result
in disruption of service. Drinking water treatment plants are typically not as vulnerable as wastewater plants to coastal
flooding, as they are often located at higher elevations. However, desalination plants would be vulnerable to sea-level
rise and storm surges. Moreover, cities built on coastal estuaries may not have much high ground and could be strongly
affected by changes in sea level or storm surge magnitude.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Climate change-induced sea-level rise is due to two components: thermal expansion of the oceans as they warm and inputs
from the melting of glaciers and ice sheets (Antarctica, Greenland) on land. The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report estimates that
global mean sea level will rise 0.26 to 0.82 meters (10.2 to 32.3 inches) over the course of the 21st century (IPCC 2013). Other
scientists estimate that sea-level rise could reach 6.6 feet by the end of the century (Parris et al. 2012).
Local observed sea level is due to a combination of factors including changes in global mean sea level, regional differences
due to the influence of ocean currents, salinity and other local dynamics such as subsidence, and in some cases, tectonic
uplift (common in Alaska). A recent study demonstrates that, over the past 60 years, sea level along the Gulf of Mexico has
been rising substantially faster (5 to 10 mm/year) than the global trend (1.7 mm/year) due to land subsidence. Subsidence is
also responsible for faster than average sea-level rise in the Mid-Atlantic region. For example, subsidence has increased from
2 to 3 cm in the past 40 years in southern New Jersey due to groundwater withdrawals (Parris etal. 2012). In the Northeast,
sea-level rise is expected to exceed the global average by up to 4 inches per century.
Sea-level rise will cause the level of flooding that occurs during the current 100-year storms to occur more frequently by mid-
century (USGCRP 2014). For example, the 1-in-100 year coastal flood event in New York City is expected to occur once in every
15 to 35 years by the end of the century (Morton 2010).
Sea-level rise is a gradual coastal flooding threat, but it will exacerbate more sudden coastal storm surges during severe
storms, including but not limited to hurricanes. The intensity, frequency, and duration of North Atlantic hurricanes has
increased in recent decades, and the intensity of these storms is likely to continue to increase in this century (USGCRP 2014).
More intense hurricanes can be expected to lead to increased flooding in coastal and near-coast areas.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to checkoff options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on theyj, InloriRlicon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^K^^B__
OST
$
Conduct sea-level rise and storm surge modeling. Incorporate resulting inundation mapping and
estimates of saltwater intrusion into groundwater or estuaries into land use, water supply and facility
planning.
!ป, Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or
^ salinity) and costs of resultant changes in treatment.
ฉExpand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
times of service disruption or shortage.
$
$$-$$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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LANNING (continued)
(ฃi) Plan for alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
Adopt insurance mechanisms and other financial instruments, such as catastrophe bonds, to protect
against financial losses associated with infrastructure losses.
^^ Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
^^ Ensure that emergency response plans deal with flooding contingencies and include stakeholder
^^ engagement and communication.
^^ Establish mutual aid agreements with neighboring utilities.
ฉIdentify and protect vulnerable facilities, including developing operational strategies that isolate
these facilities and re-route flows.
Integrate climate-related risks into capital improvement plans, including options that provide
resilience against current and potential future sea-level and storm surge risks.
ฉParticipate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation. (See example below)
Implement policies and procedures for post-flood repairs.
PERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Monitor and inspect the integrity of existing infrastructure.
Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g. storm
intensity, sea level).
COST
$
$
$
$
$
$-$$
$
$-$$
$
COST
$-$$
$
APITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
|S| Acquire and manage coastal ecosystems, such as coastal wetlands, to attenuate storm surge and
^ reduce coastal flooding ("soft protection").
^ Set aside land to support future flood-proofing needs (e.g., berms, dikes and retractable gates).
Build flood barriers, sea walls, levees and related structures to protect infrastructure. (See example
below)
ฉ^afc Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
^"^ conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
lปl Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^ times of service disruption or shortage.
ฉEstablish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support operations
in case of loss of power.
Relocate facilities (e.g., treatment plants) to higher ground.
|ge| Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or
^^ salinity).
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE
Built on a marine estuary, New York City is highly vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surge. In 2012, intense storm
surge from Hurricane Sandy damaged coastal infrastructure, caused massive beach erosion, and inundated many coastal
communities. Due to the impacts experienced during Sandy and the projection that the frequency of intense storms will
increase in the next few decades (NYC 2013), New York City developed a comprehensive coastal protection plan in 2013.
As part of this plan, NYC conducted an extensive analysis of the vulnerabilities of coastal communities and infrastructure
and identified measures to increase resilience to sea-level rise and storm surge impacts. Adaptation actions such as beach
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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nourishment, wetland restoration, bulkheads, tide gates, sea walls (concrete barriers that would surround the city's coast
line) or a series of more targeted storm surge barriers and levee systems - that would deploy only during storm surge
events and would otherwise allow tidal exchange and ship movement - are currently being considered (NYC 2013).
For more information see: http://www.nvc.qov/html/sirr/html/report/report.shtml
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WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
FLOODING FROM COASTAL STORM SURGES (WW)
Return to Introduction
Global mean sea level has risen by 8 inches since 1880 and is projected to rise another 1 to 4feet by 2100 (USGCRP2014).
In locations where sea-level rise is combined with projected increases in storm frequency or intensity, coastal storm surge
may increase in frequency and extent This combination results in inundation of coastal areas and damage to infrastructure
such as treatment plants, pump stations and sewer infrastructure. Wastewater facilities are particularly vulnerable in that
they are often located in coastal zones likely to be inundated as a result of sea-level rise, and where flooding impacts may
be exacerbated by storm surge. Intrusion of saltwater into wastewater outfall systems may cause backflows or necessitate
higher pumping costs. Moreover, cities built on coastal estuaries may not have much high ground and could be strongly
affected by changes in sea level or storm surge magnitude.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Climate change-induced sea-level rise is due to two components: thermal expansion of the oceans as they warm and inputs
from the melting of glaciers and ice sheets (Antarctica, Greenland) on land. The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report estimates
that global mean sea level will rise 0.26 to 0.82 m (10.2 to 32.3 inches) over the course of the 21 st century (IPCC 2013). Other
scientists estimate that sea-level rise could reach 6.6 feet by the end of the century (Parris et al. 2012).
Local observed sea level is due to a combination of factors including changes in global mean sea level, regional differences
due to the influence of ocean currents, salinity and other local dynamics such as subsidence, and in some cases, tectonic
uplift (common in Alaska). A recent study demonstrates that, over the past 60 years, sea level along the Gulf of Mexico has
been rising substantially faster (5 to 10 mm/year) than the global trend (1.7 mm/year) due to land subsidence. Subsidence is
also responsible for faster than average sea-level rise in the Mid-Atlantic region. For example, subsidence has increased from
2 to 3 cm in the past 40 years in southern New Jersey due to groundwater withdrawals (Parris et al. 2012). In the Northeast,
sea-level rise is expected to exceed the global average by up to 4 inches per century.
Sea-level rise will cause the level of flooding that occurs during the current 100-year storms to occur more frequently by
mid-century (USGCRP 2014). For example, the 1 -in-100 year coastal flood event in New York City is expected to occur once in
every 15 to 35 years by the end of the century (Morton 2010).
Sea-level rise is a gradual coastal flooding threat, but it will exacerbate more sudden coastal storm surges during severe
storms, including - but not limited to- hurricanes. The intensity, frequency and duration of North Atlantic hurricanes has
increased in recent decades, and the intensity of these storms is likely to continue to increase in this century (USGCRP 2014).
More intense hurricanes can be expected to lead to increased flooding in coastal and near-coast areas.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the I?* or Vm icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
Conduct sea-level rise and storm surge modeling. Incorporate resulting inundation mapping and
frequency estimates into land use and facility planning.
ฉDevelop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or
salinity) and costs of resultant changes in treatment.
^p Plan for alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
Adopt insurance mechanisms and other financial instruments, such as catastrophe bonds, to protect
against financial losses associated with infrastructure losses.
COST
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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FLOODING FROM COASTAL STORM SURGES (WW)
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PLANNING (continued
|p> Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
j^l Ensure that emergency response plans deal with flooding contingencies and include stakeholder
^P Establish mutual aid agreements with neighboring utilities.
IงR| Identify and protect vulnerable facilities, including developing operational strategies that isolate
^^ these facilities and re-route flows.
Integrate climate-related risks into capital improvement plans, including options that provide
resilience against current and potential future sea-level and storm surge risks. (See example 1 below)
^| Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation.
Implement policies and procedures for post-flood repairs.
$
$
$
$-$$
$
$-$$
$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Monitor and inspect the integrity of existing infrastructure.
Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g., storm
intensity, sea level).
COST
$-$$
$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
^ Acquire and manage coastal ecosystems, such as coastal wetlands, to attenuate storm surge and
^ reduce coastal flooding ("soft protection").
HI Set aside land to support future flood-proofing needs (e.g., berms, dikes and retractable gates).
Build flood barriers, sea walls, levees and related structures to protect infrastructure. (See example 2
below)
^^ Establish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support
^^ operations in case of loss of power.
Relocate facilities (e.g., treatment plants) to higher ground. (See example 1 below)
Improve pumps for backflow prevention.
|S| Increase capacity for wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment and discharge, including
^^ redundancies to hedge against infrastructure losses and disruptions.
|H Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or
^ salinity).
COST
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE 1
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) incorporated sea-level rise into plans for building a 1.2 billion gallon
per day wastewater treatment plant on Deer Island in Boston Harbor. Raw sewage collected from on-shore communities
is pumped under Boston Harbor and up to the treatment plant. After treatment, the effluent is discharged into the harbor
through a 9.5 mile long gravity outfall tunnel. During the 1989 design, engineers were concerned that sea-level rise
would decrease the elevation difference between the plant and the sea over the outfall tunnel, decreasing the available
pressure head and thus the capacity of the outfall tunnel. To avoid this outcome, the plant was built 1.9 feet higher than
it would otherwise have been built, and the size of the outfall tunnel was slightly increased. This height accommodated
the projected level of sea-level rise through 2050 as well as the planned life of the facility. Construction on Deer Island
Wastewater Treatment Plant was completed in 1998 (Easterling et al. 2004, CAP 2007, CAKE 2011).
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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page 3 of 3
MWRA has continued to include sea-level rise consideration into adaptation planning, facility designs and rehabilitation
projects, and has made significant investments in climate change mitigation through energy efficiency and green energy
development. About half of the energy used by the Deer Island plant is produced on-site through the use of renewable
sources, including digester gas, wind, solar and hydroelectric generation. In addition, the use of hydroelectric generation
within the drinking water systems produces enough green power to offset over half of the energy used at the 405 million
gallon per day Carroll Water Treatment Plant.
EXAMPLE 2
The Southern Monmouth Regional Sewer Authority (SMRSA) provides wastewater service for many coastal New Jersey
communities. SMRSA is at risk to impacts from coastal storms and future sea-level rise, and was severely impacted
by Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.To address impacts related to coastal storms, SMRSA has
implemented a state-of-the-art solution of constructing mobile pump station enclosures.
The mobile pump stations are designed to house the primary electrical equipment and controls in a mobile enclosure that
would elevate the equipment above the level of flood damage. When an approaching coastal storm has the potential to
damage the pump station, the enclosure can be removed from the site and transported to an area of higher elevation. An
expendable portable generator and transfer switch are transported to the pump site to operate the station if utility power
is lost. A secondary sacrificial electrical and control system is permanently mounted at the site and will operate the pumps
on utility or generator power. Once the storm subsides, the enclosure can be moved back to the station and all electrical
equipment put back online. The first of these units was constructed in 2011 to protect a pump station that had been
damaged and partially flooded due to previous coastal storms. This station provided protection during Hurricane Irene and
Superstorm Sandy, allowing the utility to continue providing wastewater services.
The use of these mobile stations minimizes damage to the pumping station's electrical equipment, significantly reducing
any downtime of the station and allowing the utility to return the station to normal operation within hours of the passing
of the storm. Traditionally, if electrical and control equipment of a pumping station were damaged, the station could
potentially be out of service for weeks until the equipment was replaced, resulting in significant financial and environmental
costs. Because of their effectiveness and the likelihood of additional storms of increasing magnitudes, SMRSA plans to have
three additional mobile pumping stations constructed by the summer of 2015 (SMRSA 2012).
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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Environmental Protection
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
Group: ECOSYSTEM CHANGES (DW/WW)
The impacts to water utilities from ecosystem changes associated with climate change may be driven or forced by loss of
coastal systems, increases in wildfires and altered vegetation. Clicking on either the drinking water or wastewater icon next
to each impact will bring you to that particular Strategy Brief. Clicking on the Green Infrastructure icon will bring you to that
Sustainability Brief.
Loss of Coastal Landforms and Wetlands
Sea-level rise and increasing frequency of damaging tropical storms can lead to losses of coastal and stream ecosystems.
Loss of coastal wetlands can reduce the buffer against coastal storms, which may damage coastal treatment plants and
infrastructure and lead to service disruptions. Review this brief to learn more about how the UK Environment Agency
implemented a strategic flood risk management plan for the Thames Estuary, including suggestions for exploring habitat
restoration and constructing flood barriers.
Increased Fire Risk and Altered Vegetation
Changes in climate are likely to disturb the ecosystem and alter the diversity of vegetation. These changes, coupled with
potential droughts or changes in evaporation and soil-water retention, may lead to increased risks of wildfire. In addition to
potential degradation of water supply, fires present a direct risk to property and infrastructure. Runoff and flash floods from
burned areas can increase sedimentation in reservoirs, reducing their capacity and effective service lifespan. In reservoirs,
increased pollutant loads, such as heavy metals and nutrients, could result in higher turbidity, algal blooms and subsequent
higher treatment costs. Review this brief to learn more about how Denver Water addressed issues related to flash flooding
following wildfire events through increased water treatment and infrastructure updates and by practicing fire management
activities.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
PLANNING
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the (C"J, ClI or int icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
Study response of nearby wetlands to storm surge events.
Update fire models and fire management plans to incorporate any changes in fire frequency, magnitude
and extent due to projected future climate conditions.
Conduct sea-level rise and storm surge modeling. Incorporate resulting inundation mapping and
frequency estimates into land use and facility planning.
jpH Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and costs
^ of resultant changes in treatment.
(jjj||; Plan for alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
Adopt insurance mechanisms and other financial instruments, such as catastrophe bonds, to protect
against financial losses associated with infrastructure losses.
@ Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
g& Develop coastal restoration plans, including consideration of barrier islands, coastal wetlands and
^* dune ecosystems.
COST
$
$-$$
$
$
$
$
$
$-$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
Group: ECOSYSTEM CHANGES (DW/WW)
page 2 of 2
PLANNING
IPH Ensure that emergency response plans deal with flooding and wildfire and include stakeholder
^ engagement and communication.
Integrate climate-related risks into capital improvement plans, including options that provide resilience
against current and potential future sea-level and storm surge risks.
@ Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change adaptation.
Implement policies and procedures for post-flood and/or post-fire repairs.
$
$-$$
$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Practice fire management plans in the watershed, such as mechanical thinning, weed control, selective
harvesting, controlled burns and creation of fire breaks.
|y| Monitor and inspect the integrity of existing infrastructure.
^p Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
g^ Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g., precipitation,
^^ catchment runoff, storm intensity, sea level).
Ipl Monitor surface water conditions, including streamflow and water quality.
Monitor vegetation changes in watersheds.
$-$$
$-$$
$
$
$
$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
jซl Acquire and manage coastal ecosystems, such as coastal wetlands, to attenuate storm surge and
^ reduce coastal flooding ("soft protection").
tjjh Acquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
buffer against floods and sediment and nutrient inflows into source waterways.
^ Set aside land to support future flood-proofing needs (e.g., berms, dikes and retractable gates).
Implement or retrofit source control measures that address altered influent flow and quality at treatment
plants.
Build flood barriers, sea walls, levees and related structures to protect infrastructure.
^ |n| Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
^ฎ* ^^ conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
jS| Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^ times of service disruption or shortage.
jป. Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs and
^ construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
ฉEstablish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support operations in
case of loss of power.
Relocate facilities (e.g., treatment plants) to higher ground.
Implement barriers and aquifer recharge to limit effects of saltwater intrusion. Consider use of reclaimed
water to create saltwater intrusion barriers.
^p Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or salinity).
$$$
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
$$$
$$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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4vEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
Return to Introduction
LOSS OF COASTAL LANDFORMS /WETLANDS (DW/WW)
Global mean sea level has risen by 8 inches since 1880 and is projected to continue to rise another 1 to 4 feet by 2100 (USGCRP
2014). Sea-level rise and increasing frequency of damaging tropical storms can lead to losses of coastal and stream ecosystems.
Loss of coastal wetlands can reduce the buffer against coastal storms, leading to damage to coastal treatment plants and
infrastructure, such as intake facilities and water conveyance and distribution systems, and may cause disruption of service.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Climate change-induced sea-level rise is due to two processes: thermal expansion of the oceans as they warm and melting
of glaciers and ice sheets (Antarctica, Greenland) on land. The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report estimates that global mean
sea level will rise 0.26 to 0.82 meters (10.2 to 32.3 inches) over the course of the 21st century (IPCC 2012). Other scientists
estimate that sea-level rise could reach 6.6 feet by the end of the century (Parris et al. 2012).
Local observed sea level is due to a combination of factors including changes in global mean sea level, regional
differences due to the influence of ocean currents, salinity and other local dynamics such as subsidence, and in some
cases, tectonic uplift (common in Alaska). A recent study demonstrates that, over the past 60 years, sea level along the
Gulf of Mexico has been rising substantially faster (5 to 10 mm/year) than the global trend (1.7 mm/year) due to land
subsidence. Subsidence is also responsible for faster than average sea-level rise in the Mid-Atlantic region. For example,
subsidence has increased from 2 to 3 cm in the past 40 years in southern New Jersey due to groundwater withdrawals
(Parris et al. 2012). In the Northeast, sea-level rise is expected to exceed the global average by up to 4 inches per century.
Sea-level rise will cause the level of flooding that occurs during the current 100-year storms to occur more frequently by mid-
century (USGCRP 2014). For example, the 1-in-100 year coastal flood event in New York City is expected to occur once in every
15 to 35 years by the end of the century (Morton 2010).
Sea-level rise is a gradual coastal flooding threat, but it will exacerbate more sudden coastal storm surges during severe
storms, including - but not limited to - hurricanes. The intensity, frequency and duration of North Atlantic hurricanes has
increased in recent decades, and the intensity of these storms is likely to continue to increase in this century (USGCRP 2014).
More intense hurricanes can be expected to lead to increased flooding in coastal and near-coast areas.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
^p No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
^3^ jtf^fci ^f^^.
Click on the iHi, g'/i or CT) icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
COST
Study response of nearby wetlands to storm surge events.
Conduct sea-level rise and storm surge modeling. Incorporate resulting inundation mapping and
frequency estimates into land use and facility planning.
lซl Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and
^ costs of resultant changes in treatment.
-------
&EPA
CLIMATE READY
I/ATER UTILITIES
SEPA
LOSS OF COASTAL LANDFORMS /WETLANDS (DW/WW)
page 2 of 3
PLANNING (continued)
ฉDevelop coastal restoration plans, including consideration of barrier islands, coastal wetlands and
dune ecosystems.
|S|| Develop emergency response plans to deal with flooding contingencies and include stakeholder
^^ engagement and communication.
Integrate climate-related risks into capital improvement plans, including options that provide
resilience against current and potential future sea-level and storm surge risks.
ฉParticipate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation.
Implement policies and procedures for post-flood repairs.
COST
$-$$
$
$
$-$$
$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Monitor and inspect the integrity of existing infrastructure. (See example below)
Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g., storm
intensity, sea level).
COST
$-$$
$
$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
g^ Acquire and manage coastal ecosystems, such as coastal wetlands, to attenuate storm surge and
^ reduce coastal flooding ("soft protection"). (See example below)
Acquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands,
@ to buffer against floods and sediment and nutrient inflows into source waterways. (See example
below)
^P Set aside land to support future flood-proofing needs (e.g., berms, dikes and retractable gates).
Build flood barriers, sea walls, levees and related structures to protect infrastructure. (See example
below)
Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
lซl Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^^ times of service disruption or shortage.
ฉEstablish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support
operations in case of loss of power.
Relocate facilities (e.g., treatment plants) to higher ground.
Implement barriers and aquifer recharge to limit effects of saltwater intrusion. Consider use of
reclaimed water to create saltwater intrusion barriers.
ฉ Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity or salinity).
COST
$$$
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE
Climate change will increase flood risk on the River Thames in England, from the combined impacts of extreme storms
inland and tidal surge and sea-level rise in coastal areas. Sea-level rise may be on the order of 8 to 35 inches by 2100. In
some locations, future peak freshwater flows for the Thames could increase by around 40% by 2080. The River Thames is a
350 km river of which about 100 km is tidal; the tidal section includes the portion flowing through London. Alarmingly, an
estimated 45,000 properties in the non-tidal section are vulnerable to a 100-year flood event. In the tidal section, more than
500,000 properties are at risk of flooding.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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/ATER UTILITIES LOSS OF COASTAL LANDFORMS /WETLANDS (DW/WW)
ftfflft page 3 of 3
The UK Environment Agency established the Thames Estuary 2100 Plan to develop a strategic flood risk management
plan for London and the Thames estuary. The project included consideration of how tidal flood risk was likely to change
in response to future changes in climate, land use and demographics, and how the existing flood defense system should
be adapted to these potential changes. Eight major flood barriers, along with 36 industrial flood gates, over 400 moveable
structures and 330km of walls and embankments currently provide flood protection along the Thames.
The Plan is organized in three phases (2010-2034,2035-2069 and 2070-2100) which include measures that respond to sea-
level rise and the ongoing deterioration and aging of the defense system. The measures include maintaining and repairing
existing defenses, raising of defenses, realignment of defenses, new or improved tidal flood barriers and increased emer-
gency planning activities. Habitat restoration is also a component of the Plan; the UK intends to invest in more than 1,200
hectares of new intertidal wetlands habitat in or near the Thames estuary by 2100. Furthermore, freshwater habitat will be
created to compensate for any loss in the above intertidal expansion.
The Plan will be updated periodically as new data for sea-level rise, estimated increase in peak surge tide levels and current
conditions of each section of the flood defense system become available.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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United States
Environmental Protection
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
INCREASED FIRE RISK& ALTERED VEGETATION (DW/WW)
Return to Introduction
Changes in climate are likely to disturb the ecosystem and alter the diversity of vegetation. These changes, coupled with
potential droughts or changes in evaporation and soil-water retention, may lead to increased risks of wildfire. Fires present a
direct risk to property and infrastructure, in addition to potential degradation of water supply. Runoff and flash floods from
burned areas can increase sedimentation in reservoirs, reducing their capacity and effective service lifespan. In reservoirs,
increased pollutant loads, such as heavy metals and nutrients, could result in higher turbidity, algal blooms and subsequent
higher treatment costs.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
While the average number of wildfires per year has decreased overtime, the frequency of large wildfires and length offire
season have increased substantially since 1985, and the total area burned by wildfires in the continental United States has
nearly doubled since 2000 due to extremely dry conditions and land management practices (USGCRP 2014). Projected
increases in fire frequency and severity are expected, particularly in the western states and Alaska. Models project a
doubling of burned area in the southern Rockies (Litschert et al. 2012) and up to 74% more fires in California (Westerling et
al. 2011). This trend is most closely linked with earlier spring snowmelt. Much of this increased fire activity occurred in the
mid-elevation forests in the northern Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada Mountains (Westerling et al. 2006, CCSP 2008).
Earlier snowmelt contributes to fire frequency by increasing the ignition period and decreasing water availability later in the
summer, increasing fuel loads.
Seasonal and multi-year droughts affect wildfire severity (Brown et al. 2008, Littell et al. 2009, Schoennagel 2011, Westerling
et al. 2003). Five western states (Arizona, Colorado, Utah, California and New Mexico) have experienced their largest fires
on record at least once since 2000. Much of the increase in fires larger than 500 acres occurred in the western U.S., while
the area burned in the Southwest increased more than 300% relative to the area burned during the 1970s and early 1980s
(Westerling etal. 2006).
By 2070, the length of the fire season could increase by 2 to 3 weeks in the southwestern U.S. (Barnett et al. 2004). Climate
models project that there will be more low humidity days in the western U.S. in the future, allowing for more fire activity.
Future snowpacks are also expected to be reduced. In California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, for example, snowpack
reductions are projected to range from 25% to 40% by 2050 (Standish-Lee and Lecina 2008). Insect pests, such as bark
beetles, are expected to expand their range and exacerbate fire conditions. This increased wildfire activity is not confined to
the West; the forest fire seasonal severity rating (related to fire intensity and difficulty offire control) is projected to increase
10% to 30% in the Southeast and 10% to 20% in the Northeast by 2060 (Flannigan et al. 2000).
Ecosystems will be altered, such as possible shifts from closed forest to savanna and grassland in the Southeast during this
century, due to projected changes in temperature and precipitation. Many tree species will have distributions that are shifted
northward and to higher elevations. In general, invasive plants will benefit from increased warming (CCSP 2008, USGCRP
2009). These phenomena will have complex and unpredictable impacts on water availability and runoff in watersheds.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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INCREASED FIRE RISK & ALTERED VEGETATION (DW/WW)
page 2 of 3
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
[^Sj^ ^^j^
Click on the tTii, wm or C^ icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
Update fire models and fire management plans to incorporate any changes in fire frequency,
magnitude and extent due to projected future climate conditions.
^^ Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and
^ costs of resultant changes in treatment.
^ Plan for alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
Adopt insurance mechanisms and other financial instruments, such as catastrophe bonds, to protect
against financial losses associated with infrastructure losses.
@ Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
|ป Ensure that emergency response plans deal with flooding and wildfire and include stakeholder
^ engagement and communication.
ฉParticipate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation.
Implement policies and procedures for post-flood and/or post-fire repairs.
COST
$-$$
$
$
$
$
$
$-$$
$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Practice fire management plans in the watershed, such as mechanical thinning, weed control, selective
harvesting, controlled burns and creation of fire breaks. (See example below)
lป Monitor flood events and drivers that may impact flood and water quality models (e.g.,
^ precipitation, catchment runoff). (See example below)
^p Monitor surface water conditions, including streamflow and water quality.
Monitor vegetation changes in watersheds.
COST
$-$$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Implement or retrofit source control measures that address altered influent flow and quality at
treatment plants.
Build flood barriers, flood control dams, levees and related structures to protect infrastructure.
Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
times of service disruption or shortage.
Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
Establish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support
operations in case of loss of power.
Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity).
COST
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
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page 3 of 3
EXAMPLE
A series of natural disasters in Denver Water's primary watershed including the 1996 Buffalo Creek Fire (which burned
11,900 acres) and the 2002 Hayman Fire (which charred another 138,000 acres) have prompted Denver Water to be more
proactive in dealing with watershed health. The combination of these two fires, followed by significant rainstorms, resulted
in more than 1 million cubic yards of sediment accumulating in Strontia Springs Reservoir, which is critically important to
Denver Water's system as an intake point for the Foothills Treatment Plant - a facility that handles approximately 80% of
Denver Water's supply.
Prior to the wildfires, Strontia Springs Reservoir contained approximately 250,000 cubic yards of sediment, which had been
accumulating since 1983 when the dam was completed. Increased sediment creates operational challenges, causes water
quality issues and clogs treatment plants.
Many parts of the U.S. are projected to experience increases in fire frequency and severity due to climate change. Therefore, to
respond to the impacts of the Buffalo Creek and Hayman fires, and to mitigate impacts from future fires, Denver Water spent
more than $26 million on water quality treatment, sediment and debris removal, reclamation techniques and infrastructure
projects. In addition to impacts to the utility, the Hayman fire suppression costs for state and federal agencies were more than
$42 million.The Hayman fire led to a loss of 600 structures, including 132 residences. Total insured private property losses were
estimated at $38.7 million. Loss of wildlife habitat, aesthetics, tourism and recreation values are invaluable.
To mitigate future damage, Denver Water and the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region are equally sharing an
investment of $33 million over a multi-year period for restoration projects on more than 38,000 acres of National Forest
lands (Denver Water 2014). The work will include mechanical thinning, fuel reduction, creating fire breaks, erosion control,
decommissioning roads and reforestation.
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Group: SERVICE DEMAND & USE (DW/WW)
Return to Introduction
Changes in service demand associated with climate change maybe driven or forced by altered volume and temperature of
influent, as well as future challenges to meet the changing needs of agricultural and energy sectors. Clicking on either the
drinking water or wastewater icon next to each impact will bring you to that particular Strategy Brief. Clicking on the Energy
Management, Green Infrastructure or Water Demand Management icon will bring you to that Sustainability Brief.
Volume and Temperature Challenges
Climate change may lead to a growing imbalance in tTfe demand for service and the ability of drinking water and wastewater
utilities to meet it. Adaptation measures to identify additional water sources, improve efficiency of operations and promote
conservation will provide benefits where changes in the supply and the scarcity of resources are of concern. Review the
drinking water brief to learn more about how the Metropolitan Water District in Southern California has diversified its water
supply to increase its reliability. Review the wastewater brief to learn more about how the City of Chicago implemented a
green infrastructure program to manage stormwater runoff by reducing combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
Changes in Agricultural Water Demand
Changes in agricultural practices in response to climate change could significantly impact the ability of drinking water utilities
to provide sufficient supply for their ratepayers. Rather than competing for limited resources during times of scarcity, these two
sectors may have opportunities to collaborate on mutually beneficial solutions that meet their water needs. Review this brief
to learn more about how Kern County, California uses water banking to increase its water storage capacity to offset impacts
related to increased demand for water for agricultural purposes.
Changes in Energy Sector Needs and Energy Needs of Water Utilities
Changes in climate will impact both the energy sector directly as well as the energy needs of water utilities. The need for water
used in energy generation is significant: thermoelectric power generation accounted for 49% of total water withdrawals in
2005 (USGS 2009). The energy required by the water sector for providing services is significant as well. Electricity accounts for
about 75% of the cost of municipal water processing and transport and consumes about 4% of the nation's electricity (USGCRP
2009). Without cross-sectoral consideration of increased water and energy demands, future impacts from climate change may
include higher operating costs, frequent loss of power and water shortages. Review this brief to learn more about how the
Sonoma County Water Agency is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to produce "carbon free" water, how Melbourne Water
in Australia is supplying power utilities with reclaimed water for cooling and how the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water
Authority installed methane digesters to generate power for the utility.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
PLANNING
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the JHJ, gg or f% icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
COST
j^ Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and costs
^^ of resultant changes in treatment.
Model sewer systems to understand the impact of higher groundwater infiltration on plant capacity and
operating costs.
tUse hydrologic models to project runoff and incorporate model results during water supply planning.
Plan for alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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WATER UTILITIES
Group: SERVICE DEMAND & USE (DW/WW)
page 2 of 3
PLANNING (continued)
Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
Develop energy management plans for key facilities.
Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change adaptation.
Update drought contingency plans; include water conservation/water restriction requirements and
actions for customers.
Establish a relationship with the local power utility and work jointly on strategies to reduce
^ seasonal or peak water and energy demands (e.g., water reclamation for use in power
generation).
Work with power companies to evaluate feasibility of using recycled water or alternative cooling
methods to meet power plant needs.
ฉModel agricultural water demand under future scenarios of climate change and projections of
cropping types. Consider evaluating the use of recycled water for irrigation.
Model or understand existing models of regional electricity demand under future scenarios of climate
change and regional growth.
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Conduct stress testing on wastewater treatment biological systems to assess tolerance to heat.
@ Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
^ Monitor surface water conditions, including streamflow and water quality in receiving bodies.
Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water, including use of greywater in homes and businesses.
1^. Improve energy efficiency of operations (e.g., installing more energy efficient pumps).
ฉOptimize operations by restricting some energy-intensive activities during the summer to times of
reduced electricity demand (i.e., nighttime) and work with energy utility on off-peak pricing.
Practice conjunctive use (i.e., optimal use of surface water and groundwater).
ฉReduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with weather-linked controls).
Practice demand management through communication to public on water conservation actions.
^ Practice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak detection
and water loss monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or rainwater
harvesting tanks.
COST
$
$
$-$$
$
$
$
$-$$
$
COST
$$
$
$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$
$-$$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Acquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
buffer against floods and sediment and nutrient inflows into source waterways.
Build less energy-intensive treatment systems, such as using engineered wetlands.
Implement green infrastructure on site and in municipalities (e.g., green roofs, filter strips and more
permeable building materials) to reduce runoff and associated pollutant loads into waterways.
Reduce inflow and infiltration into the sewer system by increasing control measures to decrease the
volume of water to be pumped and treated.
Build infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery, either for seasonal storage or longer-term
water banking, (e.g., recharge canals, recovery wells).
ฉDiversify options to complement current water supply to include those that require less energy for
treatment, conveyance, and distribution.
HH Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in times
^ of service disruption or shortage.
COST
$$$
$$$
$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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page 3 of 3
V^ CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES COST
|ji| Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs and
^^ construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
ฉEstablish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support operations in
case of loss of power.
HH Increase capacity for wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment and discharge, including
^^ redundancies to hedge against infrastructure losses and disruptions.
^p Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity).
Install effluent cooling systems (e.g., chillers, wetlands or trees for shading).
Retrofit intakes to accommodate decreased source water flows or reservior levels.
Build or expand infrastructure to support conjunctive use.
ฉ ฉ Build systems to reclaim wastewater for energy, industrial, agricultural or household use.
$$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
$$$
$-$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
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1 * - ' 'Mt.---- , '
VOLUME &TEMPERATURE CHALLENGES (DW)
leturn to Introduction
Drought may increase in frequency and severity in some areas due to projected declining precipitation and increased
loss of water from vegetation and evaporation. In areas dependent on snowmelt for water supplies, higher temperatures
will reduce snowpack, thereby decreasing water storage. This combination results in decreased streamflow, reservoir
safe yield and groundwater recharge. These impacts will reduce the available supplies for water systems dependent on
surface water as well as groundwater, and potentially lead to service disruption. Diversifying water sources addresses
some challenges associated with increased temperature, such as increased treatment costs associated with declining
surface water quality. Groundwater often requires less treatment than surface water, and water recycling reduces the
total amount of water that needs to be treated (Miller and Yates 2005).
CLIMATE INFORMATION
By the end of the century, the average United States temperature is projected to increase by approximately 5ฐF to 10ฐF
under the higher emissions scenario and by approximately 3ฐF to 5ฐF under the lower emissions scenario. The hottest
day that occurs once every 20 years today is expected to occur once every two or three years over most of the U.S.
(USGCRP2014).
Model projections of future precipitation indicate that southern areas, particularly the Southwest, will become drier
(USGCRP2014).
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the IHi, m% or Ipj icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
^^^^^^^^^^^^FM_
COST
$
$
$
$-$$
$
Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and
costs of resultant changes in treatment.
Use hydrologic models to project runoff and incorporate model results during water supply
planning.
Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation.
Update drought contingency plans; include water conservation/water restriction requirements
and actions for customers.
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
Monitor surface water conditions, including streamflow and water quality.
Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water, including use of greywater in homes and
businesses.
Practice conjunctive use (i.e., optimal use of surface water and groundwater).
$
$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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VOLUME & TEMPERATURE CHALLENGES (DW)
page 2 of 2
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES (continued)
Reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with weather-linked controls). (See $$-$$$
example below)
(fo Practice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak
detection and waterless monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or $-$$
rainwater harvesting tanks.
V^ CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIE!
ฉAcquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
regulate runoff.
Build infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery (either for seasonal storage or longer-
term water banking), e.g., recharge canals, recovery wells.
ISI tfofc Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
^^ ^^ conjunctive use and stormwater capture. (See example below)
|3g| Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^ times of service disruption or shortage. (See example below)
jj^ Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
^^ and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
^P Increase treatment capabilities to address water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity).
Retrofit intakes to accommodate decreased source water flows or reservoir levels.
Build or expand infrastructure to support conjunctive use.
\ง fj Build systems to recycle wastewater for energy, industrial, agricultural or household use.
$$$
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) is a wholesale water supplier for southern California.
Metropolitan improved its Integrated Resource Plan in 1996 to enhance and diversify water supply reliability. Over the past
decade, imported water supplies have been complemented by aggressive conservation programs, local water recycling,
groundwater supplies, enhanced water storage and conveyance and water transfers. Metropolitan has helped develop more
than 75 water recycling and groundwater recovery programs with local agencies through funding incentives. For example,
the West Basin Municipal Water District receives secondary, treated wastewater from the City of Los Angeles, treats it to
a tertiary level, and delivers it primarily for landscape irrigation and various industrial purposes. A portion of this water is
injected to create an exclusion barrier against seawater intrusion into drinking water wells in the South Bay area. This project
currently produces more than 20,000 acre-feet of water each year and is expected to expand to around 70,000 acre-feet of
water each year by 2025. Moreover, Metropolitan has increased its storage capacity tenfold through the completion of both
the Diamond Valley Lake in Hemet, new groundwater storage, and by acquiring contractual storage in state reservoirs. It has
also been a leader in voluntary water transfers with agricultural districts. In August 2004, Metropolitan and the Palo Verde
Irrigation District (PVID) executed a 35-year agreement under which individual landowners agree not to irrigate up to 29%
of the valley's farm land, saving up to 111,000 acre-feet for other uses (Metropolitan 2010).
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VOLUME 8t TEMPERATURE CHALLENGES (WW)
Return to Introduction
Climate models project that in the future, many areas are likely to receive less annual precipitation, but that when precipitation
falls, it will be in fewer, more extreme rainfall events. These storm events wash sediment downstream and degrade water
quality. Coupled with increases in algal growth resulting from the higher temperatures, generally diminished water quality in
receiving waters may lead to more stringent requirements for wastewater discharges, higher treatment costs and the need for
capital improvements. In some locations, lower flows and higher temperatures may impact ecosystems that are sensitive to
temperature, requiring the utility to cool effluent prior to discharge.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
The United States has recently seen unprecedented prolonged (multi-month) extreme heat events. The 2011 and 2012
extreme heat events set records for highest monthly average temperatures, hottest daytime maximum temperatures and
warmest nighttime minimum temperatures (Karl et al. 2012). The likelihood of record-breaking temperature extremes is
expected to increase in the future (USGCRP 2014).
By the end of the century, the average U.S. temperature is projected to increase by approximately 5ฐF to 10ฐF under the
higher emissions scenario and by approximately 3ฐF to 5ฐF under the lower emissions scenario. The hottest day that occurs
once every 20 years today is expected to occur once every two or three years over most of the U.S. (USGCRP 2014).
Model projections of future precipitation indicate that southern areas, particularly the Southwest, will become drier
(USGCRP 2014). Lower volumes in surface water bodies may lead to higher pollutant concentrations.
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
^B^ ^^^
Click on theB*Bor(n|icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
|S| Develop models to understand potential water quality changes (e.g., increased turbidity) and
^ costs of resultant changes in treatment.
Model sewer systems to understand the impact of higher groundwater infiltration on plant capacity
and operating costs.
^p Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
jjfc Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
^^ adaptation.
COST
$
$
$
$-$$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
Conduct stress testing on wastewater treatment biological systems to assess tolerance to heat.
HI Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
%p Monitor surface water conditions, including water quality in receiving bodies.
COST
$$
$
$
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
VOLUME & TEMPERATURE CHALLENGES (WW)
page 2 of 2
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES (continued)
Implement green infrastructure on site and in municipalities (e.g., green roofs, filter strips and more
permeable building materials) to reduce runoff and associated pollutant loads into waterways. (See
example below)
Reduce inflow and infiltration into the sewer system by increasing control measures to decrease
the volume of water to be pumped and treated.
|ป Increase capacity for wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment and discharge, including
^ redundancies to hedge against infrastructure losses and disruptions. (See example below)
ji^ Increase treatment capabilities and capacities to address more stringent treatment requirements
^^ (e.g., tertiary treatment).
Install effluent cooling systems (e.g., chillers, wetlands or trees for shading).
COST
$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
$-$$
EXAMPLE
Like many cities that installed sewage collection systems prior to the 1930s, Chicago has a system that conveys both sewage
and stormwater runoff. Large precipitation events can overwhelm the system, leading to combined sewer overflows (CSOs)
that result in sewage flowing into the Chicago River, which degrades water quality in Lake Michigan. Chicago is building a
deep tunnel system to expand capacity during flood events. This system will not be completed until 2019, and there are
also concerns that extreme storm events will overwhelm even this expanded infrastructure. The city has therefore begun
plans to implement a program to encourage the implementation of green infrastructure throughout the city, including:
A Stormwater Management Ordinance mandates that as of 2008, any development that involves an area of 15,000 sq ft or
creates a parking lot of 7,500 sq ft must retain the first half inch of rainfall on site or reduce the prior imperviousness by 15%.
The Green Streets Program that has increased the proportion of the city shaded by tree canopy by 15%.
The Green Roof Grant Program and Green Roof Improvement Fund that offers incentives for building green roofs. In 2007,
the Chicago City Council allocated $500,000 to the Fund, and authorized the Department of Planning and Development to
award grants of up to $100,000 to green roof projects within the City's Central Loop District.
The Green Alley Program that began in 2006 and has started a series of pilot projects to test a variety of permeable paving
materials to reduce flooding in alleys and increase infiltration of runoff. The City estimates that as of 2006,1,900 miles of
public alleys are paved with 3,500 acres of impervious cover.
These green infrastructure programs have been very successful. As of 2010, nearly 600,000 trees have been added to
the cityscapeand more than 4 million sqft of green roofs have been installed on 300 buildings (U.S. EPA 2010). Green
infrastructure can help both attenuate stormwater runoff and moderate the temperature of the water entering surface
waters, and is thus an important climate change adaptation strategy.
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CHANGES IN AGRICULTURAL WATER DEMAND (DW) Return to introduction J
Changing water needs of agricultural practices due to climate change could significantly impact the ability of drinking water
utilities to provide sufficient supply. Competition could lead to shortfalls in water supply in the summer growing period,
in particular. However, collaboration between the water and agricultural sectors can assist in meeting the water needs of
both of these sectors. The following information describes strategies that water utilities can pursue while partnering with
agricultural interests in their region.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
By the end of the century, the average United States temperature is projected to increase by approximately 5ฐF to 10ฐF under
the higher emissions scenario and by approximately 3ฐF to 5ฐF under the lower emissions scenario (USGCRP 2014).
Increased temperatures mean increased evapotranspiration and crop water demands.
By 2090, water demand is projected to increase by 42% under a lower emissions scenario and 82% under a higher emissions
scenario, compared to 2005 levels. A large portion of the increase in demand is attributed to irrigation demands (Foti et al.
2012).
Warming will increase the cultivation period of some crops (and irrigation water requirements); while others will have shorter
periods due to heat stress (Backlund et al. 2008, USGCRP 2014).
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the jRi, mw or iPI icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
^^^^^^^^^^^^FM_
COST
$
$
$-$$
$-$$
Use hydrologic models to project runoff and incorporate model results during water supply
planning.
Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation.
Model agricultural water demand under future scenarios of climate change and projections of
cropping types. Consider evaluating the use of recycled water for irrigation.
RATIONAL STRATEGIES
Monitor current weather conditions, including precipitation and temperature.
Finance and facilitate systems to recycle water, including use of greywater in homes and
businesses.
Practice conjunctive use (i.e., optimal use of surface water and groundwater).
Reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with weather-linked controls).
Practice demand management through communication to public on water conservation actions.
COST
$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 2
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CHANGES IN AGRICULTURAL WATER DEMAND (DW)
page 2 of 2
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES (continued)
Practice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak
detection and water loss monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or
rainwater harvesting tanks.
$-$$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
ฉAcquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
regulate runoff.
Build infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery (either for seasonal storage or longer-
term water banking), e.g., recharge canals, recovery wells. (See example below)
IPH tfBfe Diversify options to complement current water supply, including recycled water, desalination,
^ ^ conjunctive use and stormwater capture.
HH Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^ times of service disruption or shortage.
^^ Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
^^ and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
Build or expand infrastructure to support conjunctive use.
COST
$$$
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE
Water banking, a water leasing and trading tool used by the water sector to meet changing water demand, has been
effectively applied in Kern County, California. Located at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, Kern County is one
of the most productive agricultural counties in the nation, with more than 800,000 acres of irrigated farmland. The county
is favorably situated for water banking in terms of geology, surface water supply, and delivery systems. Most of the water
banks are highly permeable and well-suited for recharging underground aquifers. The earliest water banking programs
began in the late 1970s and early 1980s with development of recharge ponds by the city of Bakersfield and the Kern County
Water Agency. Today, the three major water banks have a combined storage capacity of about 3 million acre-feet- more
than five times the amount of water in Millerton Lake, one of the larger reservoirs feeding the Central Valley surface-water
system (Pacific Institute 2010).
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CHANGES IN ENERGY SECTOR NEEDS AND
ENERGY NEEDS OF UTILITIES (DW/WW)
Return to Introduction
Changes in climate will impact the energy sector directly and the energy needs of water utilities. Water usage in energy
generation depends on many factors and is significant in scale. Thermoelectric power plants in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico,
Nevada, and Utah consumed an estimated 292 million gallons of water a day (MGD) in 2005, approximately equal to the water
consumed by Denver, Phoenix, and Albuquerque, combined. The same year, thermoelectric power generation accounted for
49% of total water withdrawals in the United States-considerably more than the 31% withdrawn for agriculture (USGS2009).
The energy required by the water sector to provide services is also significant. Electricity accounts for about 75% of the cost
of municipal water processing and transport and consumes about 4% of the nation's electricity (USGCRP 2009). Surface water
often requires more treatment than groundwater, and desalination is very energy intensive - energy accounts for 40% of the
total desalination costs. Treated wastewater and recycled water (used primarily for agriculture and industry) require energy for
treatment, but little for supply and conveyance (Cohen 2007, USGCRP 2009).
The following information describes strategies that water utilities can pursue while partnering with the energy sector in
their region to reduce the amount of energy used in an effort to meet future water and energy needs. Without cross-sector
consideration of increased water and energy demands, future impacts from climate change may include higher operating
costs, frequent loss of power, and water shortages. These impacts will be most significant and likely during the summer, when
water and electricity demand peak.
CLIMATE INFORMATION
Summer electricity generation will likely be constrained by rising temperatures and water shortages. The efficiency of
thermal power plants is sensitive to ambient air and water temperatures - higher temperatures reduce power outputs by
decreasing the efficiency of cooling. Moreover, future water constraints on thermoelectric power plants are projected for
Arizona, Utah,Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, California, Oregon and Washington state by 2025 (USGCRP 2009).
By 2030, water use for power production in the Rocky Mountain/Desert Southwest region is projected to grow by 200 MGD -
an amount of water that could otherwise be used to meet the needs of 2.5 million people (WRA2010).
The total electricity demand for the U.S. is projected to increase 30% by 2035 compared to 2008 levels (US EIA 2010).
Resultant increases in water demand will be a function of the fuel types used, cooling systems at thermoelectric plants and
the rate at which existing plants are retired (DOE 2006).
There will be disproportionately more electricity demand in the summer- it is projected that 4.5ฐF of warming would result
in a 10% increase in net energy expenditures, while 9ฐF of warming would result in a 22% increase (Mansur et al. 2008).
Higher water temperatures affect both the effectiveness of electric generation and cooling processes, and the ability to
discharge heated water to streams from once-through cooled power systems due to regulatory requirements and concerns
about ecosystem impacts (USGCRP 2014).
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CHANGES IN ENERGY SECTOR NEEDS AND ENERGY
NEEDS OF UTILITIES (DW/WW) Page2of3
ADAPTATION
OPTIONS
Click to left of name to check off options for consideration; $'s ($-$$$) indicate relative costs
Click name of any option to review more information in the Glossary
No Regrets options - actions that would provide benefits to the utility under current climate conditions as well
as any future changes in climate. For more information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the IRi, m% or ipj icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
PLANNING
Use hydrologic models to project runoff and incorporate model results during water supply
planning.
Plan for alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
Conduct climate change impacts and adaptation training for personnel.
Develop energy management plans for key facilities.
Participate in community planning and regional collaborations related to climate change
adaptation.
Establish a relationship with the local power utility and work jointly on strategies to reduce
seasonal or peak water and energy demands (e.g., water reclamation for use in power
generation).
|H Work with power companies to evaluate feasibility of using recycled water or alternative cooling
" methods to meet power plant needs. (See example 2 below)
Model or understand existing models of regional electricity demand under future scenarios of climate
change and regional growth.
COST
$
$
$
$-$$
OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES
|=^ Improve energy efficiency of operations (e.g., installing more energy efficient pumps). (See
** example 1 below)
^ Optimize operations by restricting some energy-intensive activities during the summer to times of
^ reduced electricity demand (i.e., nighttime) and work with energy utility on off-peak pricing.
Practice conjunctive use (i.e., optimal use of surface water and groundwater).
Practice demand management through communication to public on water conservation actions.
ฉPractice water conservation and demand management through water metering, leak
^ detection and water loss monitoring, rebates for water conserving appliances/toilets and/or
J rainwater harvesting tanks.
Practice water conservation and demand management to reduce energy demand and
associated costs. (See example 1 below)
COST
$-$$$
$-$$$
$$-$$$
$
$-$$
$-$$
CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES
Acquire and manage ecosystems, such as forested watersheds, vegetation strips and wetlands, to
regulate runoff.
Build less energy-intensive treatment systems, such as using engineered wetlands.
Reduce inflow and infiltration into the sewer system by increasing control measures to decrease
the volume of water to be pumped and treated.
Build infrastructure needed for aquifer storage and recovery, either for seasonal storage or longer-
term water banking, (e.g., recharge canals, recovery wells).
|H Diversify options to complement current water supply to include those that require less energy for
^"* treatment, conveyance and distribution. (See example 2 below)
COST
$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
$$$
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CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGIES (continued)
COST
^PH Expand current resources by developing regional water connections to allow for water trading in
^ times of service disruption or shortage.
^ Increase water storage capacity, including silt removal to expand capacity at existing reservoirs
^^ and construction of new reservoirs and/or dams.
,4s;v Establish alternative power supplies, potentially through on-site generation, to support
^"^ operations in case of loss of power. (See examples 1 and3 below)
Build or expand infrastructure to support conjunctive use.
^5fc ^gfc Build systems to reclaim wastewater for energy, industrial, agricultural or household use. (See
^ ^ example 2 below)
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE 1
The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) provides water to a population of over 600,000 in Sonoma and Marin counties in
California. In 2006, SCWA realized that it was one of the largest energy users in Sonoma County, which drove the agency to take
action to reduce energy usage and associated greenhouse gas emissions. As part of their response, SCWA established a goal
to produce "carbon free" water by 2015 with respect to the electricity use for both water transmission and water treatment.
To meet this goal, the agency is actively working to diversify its energy portfolio and reduce its energy and fuel needs
through water conservation, system efficiency and procurement of renewable energy. Since 2006, SCWA has reduced water
consumption by 28% through water conservation and water efficiency programs and has increased efficiency of water system
operations by 18%. SCWA obtains power through a number of renewable green energy sources including: solar power (5% of
energy use), hydropower (39% of energy use) and through a landfill gas-to-energy project (51% of energy use).
Through these initiatives, SCWA has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 98% since 2006. The agency intends to achieve
the final 2% reduction by switching meters to a local electricity provider, Sonoma Clean Power, which offers 100% renewable
power at competitive rates, power supply. As a leader in climate action, SCWA has received multiple awards, including
achieving platinum status with The Climate Registry, a non-partisan nonprofit organization that encourages organizations
to voluntarily, accurately and consistently track their greenhouse gas emissions with a high level of accounting and integrity
(SCWA 2012).
EXAMPLE 2
Melbourne Water (Victoria, Australia) is employing several strategies to expand water supply in response to climate change,
given that precipitation and streamflow in its source areas may decline by 13% and 35%, respectively, by 2050. First, a major
desalination plant is being constructed (due to be completed by the end of 2011), which will supply 150 billion liters of water -
or about one third of the needed annual water supply - and will inherently be independent of hydrological variability. Second,
the utility is upgrading its wastewater treatment plants to tertiary level, which will allow it to divert reclaimed water to power
utilities that are currently using Latrobe Valley river water in power system cooling (Danilenko et al. 2010).
EXAMPLE 3
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) has installed methane digesters in its wastewater
treatment plant, capturing methane and using it to generate both electricity and heat. In 2013, the treatment plant generated
21% of its power from utilizing waste methane instead of flaring it off as is commonly done (WRA2010). Over 99% of all
methane generated from this plant's sludge digestion process was beneficially used in 2013. An additional 6% of the total plant
energy requirement was provided by renewable solar power.
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Return to Introduction
SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green infrastructure is an approach that uses either natural systems or engineered systems that mimic natural processes to
control runoff and reduce water demand. The implementation of green infrastructure helps to address current challenges
related to stormwater collection and treatment, limits floods from peakflows into surface waters following storms, augments
groundwater supplies in shallow aquifers and supports source water protection efforts. Projected changes in precipitation
patterns from climate change will exacerbate these existing challenges. Green infrastructure can be particularly effective when
considered as part of a suite of options. For example, in conjunction with water conservation and infiltration/inflow reduction
programs, it can be highly effective in reducing flow volumes.
BENEFITS OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AS PART OF AN ADAPTATION PLAN
Increase collection capacity: Reducing runoff volumes and rates through incorporation of green infrastructure within
a service area decreases the overall flows into collection systems. This reduction of influent volumes can lower the
frequency of combined sewer overflows and raw sewage backups as well as potentially reduce the need for infrastructure
maintenance and expansion.
Increase resilience of service: Facilitating groundwater recharge and reducing peak runoff flows may effectively reduce
drought and flood-related service interruptions. Providing risk reduction through green infrastructure could improve
the performance of other adaptation options to mitigate floods and droughts under projected climate conditions (e.g.,
combine rain gardens with stormwater storage to handle larger storms with current treatment capacity).
Enable incremental expansion of service: Green infrastructure installations can be added as needed in areas that
are not directly connected to existing infrastructure. In many cases, this decentralized approach allows for greater
flexibility, faster implementation and lower costs than traditional grey infrastructure because it avoids building additional
connections to the collection system.
Decrease carbon footprint: Implementing green infrastructure projects can reduce collection and treatment needs,
thereby reducing the utility's associated energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. These projects can also help
reduce the urban heat island effectgreen roofs and other vegetation have been shown to keep buildings cooler during
hot weather, reducing energy costs and emissions.
Leverage opportunities for co-benefits: The costs of pursuing green infrastructure strategies may compare favorably
to expanding or upgrading facilities when considering averted costs and additional benefits to the utility and larger
community (e.g., air pollutant reductions and fewer odor complaints). The longer-term benefits from green infrastructure
projects may become more apparent when costs and impacts of different options are assessed across multiple economic
dimensions (e.g., public services, public health and ecosystem services).
Improve public image: Many green infrastructure projects provide aesthetic enhancement to communities, particularly
when compared with expansion of the built environment. Successful projects can make communities more attractive,
increase property values, increase public safety and serve as visible reminders that a utility is pursuing adaptation
holistically.
GETTING STARTED WITH GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Green infrastructure strategies can be pursued at various scales, either at utility facilities or throughout the community
and service area. Depending on current or anticipated challenges and available resources, utilities may want to build on
strategies that have been successful in the past or pursue new options. The following steps will help utilities get started
with green infrastructure:
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GETTING STARTED (continued)
Assess Current Challenges and Opportunities: Assess the current state of green infrastructure in the utility and
surrounding community and develop an awareness of local ordinances, regulations and building codes that may
impact pursuit of green infrastructure. In addition, examine system performance in light of current and projected
climate conditions (risk assessment) to identify potential needs with respect to runoff control and gauge the
suitability of facilities or service area for green infrastructure implementation.
Evaluate Budgets and Funding Opportunities: Weigh costs and benefits to consider green infrastructure as part
of existing utility plans to improve and maintain facilities. Available funding for projects from government and
other assistance programs may be a critical factor in identifying options and potential partners for both incremental
improvements to current facilities and new projects (see funding section below).
Identify Strategies: Based on the steps above, develop criteria and identify specific activities or projects to support
pursuit of adaptation options from the tables below. Review available resources, including case studies of effectively
implemented green infrastructure strategies at other utilities. Successful approaches will vary depending on location
and utility size, but the experiences of similar utilities and local governments should help identify appropriate strategies.
Plan to Involve the Community: Partner with community groups to implement and maintain green infrastructure
projects more effectively. Potential partners for projects may include city government, local watershed groups,
environmental nonprofits, local businesses, private developers, and community and neighborhood associations.
ADAPTATION OPTIONS
(SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES)
Options for including Green Infrastructure in an overall adaptation strategy are provided
in the tables below. Relative costs are provided on a qualitative scale ($ to $$$), and
^P indicates that an option could be considered a "No Regrets" strategy. For more
information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE-PLANNING
Categorize existing and future conditions for land use and cover in watershed or collection area.
Map land use with respect to impervious surfaces and potential sediment inputs.
^P Research use of green infrastructure to meet compliance needs, such as MS4 permits.
IPH Compare green infrastructure approaches with alternatives in terms of costs and benefits in
^* response to challenges.
(@ Improve precipitation and collection models to inform runoff and influent predictions.
,gi| Design stormwater retention practices (e.g., rain gardens, green roofs) for flood prone areas (MS4s,
^ CSO area) as part of planned improvements to collection in service area.
jjl^ Conduct audit of facilities and overall system to determine suitability for new green infrastructure
^^ projects (e.g., green roof) and information needs to develop plans.
^^ Train utility staff on green infrastructure technologies and maintenance.
Meet with community and local government officials to understand green infrastructure policies,
^^ practices and standards, assess local codes and regulations and to identify opportunities to
overcome any existing barriers to green infrastructure.
Establish relationships with industries, local universities, businesses, and developers to collaborate
HI on strategies to reduce stormwater runoff and flood damage (e.g., green roofs, bioswales) and
provide necessary care-taking and maintenance.
Participate in community dialog to ensure green infrastructure is part of municipal modernization
@ and upgrades to services and evaluate opportunities with other municipal services to leverage
existing funds for green infrastructure opportunities.
j^. Investigate and define proper metrics, based on experiences of similar communities, to evaluate
^^ performance of green infrastructure projects.
COST
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$-$$
$-$$
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GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE -OPERATIONAL
|%| Reduce infiltration / inflow by preventing illegal connections and leaks (e.g., grouting connections,
^ sliplining, using watertight manhole covers) to reduce stormwater inflow volumes.
Implement infiltration or recharge projects to reduce stormwater discharges or maintain groundwater
table.
|H Place filter strips or shoreline vegetation around surface water bodies or collection infrastructure
^^ vulnerable to sedimentation.
|pi|l Install rainwater harvesting and retention (e.g., rain barrels, green roofs) at current or planned
^ facilities.
Implement adaptive water rates to correspond with water supply.
Encourage water conservation on-site by employees and reduce water use on utility grounds by
limiting irrigation and choosing native plants.
Develop communications package for customers promoting incentives and available equipment for
rainwater collection and water conservation practices.
|p|. Support green infrastructure development with large water consumers (e.g., industries, local
^ universities) and land developers.
COST
$-$$
$$-$$$
$$
$$
$
$
$-$$
$$
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE -CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE
Improve stability and permeability of soil at facilities and in public areas to reduce runoff into
stormwater collection system and surface water bodies.
Build new stormwater retention structures (e.g., rain gardens, ponds) as part of planned
improvements to collection in service area.
Support green infrastructure projects in the community as part of modernization and upgrades to
services.
/ Replace current paved surfaces (e.g., service roads and parking lots) with permeable surfaces.
COST
$-$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
EXAMPLE 1
The City of Portland, Oregon, like many major U.S. cities, has experienced challenges related to combined sewer
overflows and overall watershed health. The City Bureau of Environmental Services began a stormwater program in the
1990s and continues to implement green infrastructure solutions through the Grey to Green Program, which began in
2008, to help manage runoff and keep local rivers clean:
From 1993 to 2011, the Downspout Disconnection program encouraged homeowners to redirect roof water to lawns and
gardens, diverting approximately one billion gallons of stormwater per year from the combined sewer system.
Green retrofits to streets have included landscaped curb extensions, swales, planted strips, pervious pavement and trees.
Currently, the City has over 1200 green street facilities helping to manage stormwater.
The City offers incentives via floor area bonuses to developers that pursue eco-roofs. As of July 2012, developers have built
355 eco-roofs that add more than 17.1 acres of green space.
The Clean River Rewards program gives discounts on stormwater utility fees to homeowners that manage roof runoff by
increasing pervious surfaces on their property.
Active monitoring of projects has led to an increased understanding of effectiveness and the ability to refine projects as
needed based on collected data.
Acquisition of 318 acres of land and revegetation of natural areas are helping to control erosion and restore overall
watershed health. Specific benefits of the current $5.6 million East Lents Floodplain Restoration project will include
reduction of flooding frequency, improved wildlife habitat, stream bank stabilization, improved air quality and area
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EXAMPLE 1 (continued)
revitalization. Phase 1 of the project is funded by a $2.7 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
through its Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant program
Partnerships with local schools have allowed green projects to be used as educational opportunities for students and their
families.
The success of green infrastructure in Portland is a result of many factors, including the City's multidisciplinary approach,
the use of policy and incentives to encourage behaviors, and the use of monitoring data to continually refine approaches.
The benefits of green infrastructure, including gains in watershed health, regulatory compliance, city livability and property
values, are detailed in the 2010 report Portland's Green Infrastructure: Quantifying the Health, Energy, and Community Livabilitv
Benefits. Moving forward, the City of Portland plans to continue to use green infrastructure as an integral part of its stormwater
management program.
EXAMPLE 2
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is complementing its past infrastructure investments with new
investments in green infrastructure. These new projects have improved the effectiveness of the system during increasingly
large storm events and maintained the provision of cost-effective water management services for the Milwaukee, Wisconsin
region. Through prior efforts, MMSD decreased the number of system overflows from 50 to 60 per year before 1993 to a
rate of just over two per year today. These efforts included 405 MG of inline storage constructed for just under $1 billion
as part of the 1993 Water Pollution Abatement Program, 27 MG of additional storage built through the 27th Street Inline
Storage System extension for $98 million and 80 MG of remote storage added for the northwest section of the service area for
$161 million. The resulting $3 billion worth of infrastructure reduces the negative impact of wet weather events significantly.
Looking forward, MMSD aims to eliminate overflows by 2035, in part, by integrating green infrastructure into overall system
management and meeting its discharge permit condition to capture 1 million gallons per year over the next five years
using green infrastructure. MMSD research results indicate that green infrastructure can be effective in reducing runoff and
sediment loading while saving tunnel pumping costs, creating jobs, benefiting public health and improving community
aesthetics. Recent MMSD accomplishments through green infrastructure practices include:
Nearly 1 million gallons of stormwater prevented from entering the sewer system through distribution of almost 18,000 rain
barrels throughout the city over the course often years. With the help of a local community service corps, MMSD purchases
and retrofits reclaimed food grade barrels and then either sells or donates rain barrels to customers and community schools
and groups.
8.4 acres of new green roofs in Milwaukee through a popular program, where MMSD matches funds to build green roofs
on public and private buildings. A number of large manufacturing companies have constructed green roofs, and the public
housing agency also considers green roofs on all new buildings.
Protection of more than 2,400 acres of upstream wetlands and adjacent areas to filter stormwater pollution through the
Greenseamsฎ program, a partnership and land conservation program that aims to manage the percent of impervious
surfaces in the watershed by keeping key open spaces open and undeveloped. MMSD spends an average of approximately
$7,400 per acre on these plots of land, restores them if necessary, and then turns the land back over to the community or
land trust to manage, ensuring that the land remains undeveloped.
More information can be found in MMSD's plan for Sustainable Water Reclamation.
EXAMPLE 3
New York City's Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) is implementing a number of strategies to enhance the
city's resilience to climate change, including the New York City Green Infrastructure Plan, a comprehensive 20-year effort to
meet water quality standards. The goal of this plan is to capture stormwater runoff through green infrastructure projects
(e.g., rooftop gardens, retrofitted buildings, swales) to reduce combined sewer overflow occurrences during heavy rain
events. This cost-effective, community friendly program is an adaptive framework that can be modified to help New York
City meet its adaptation goals. In March 2012, the plan was incorporated into a consent order with the State that would
eliminate or defer $3.4 billion in traditional investments, and implementation of the initiatives in the plan would result
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EXAMPLE 3 (continued)
in approximately 1.5 billion gallons of CSO reductions annually by 2030. The Green Infrastructure program leverages the
established Greenstreets program, a collaboration between NYC Parks and NYC Department of Transportation that began
in 1996. Greenstreets, which turns unused areas into green spaces, started as a way to beautify neighborhoods and improve
air quality and, in 2010, became part of NYC DEP's Green Infrastructure Program to include additional stormwater benefits.
Green infrastructure projects are currently being implemented and monitored in NYC DEP-designated priority sewersheds
to understand and maximize benefits to the watershed.
In addition to green infrastructure, New York City is also expanding its Bluebelt program to enhance drainage in areas of
the city that currently experience street flooding. These Bluebelts are natural areas that often enhance existing drainage
corridors (such as streams, ponds and other wetland areas) to capture additional stormwater in place of installing new"grey"
infrastructure. The first Bluebelt was constructed in Staten Island; almost 10,000 acres are currently in place. NYC DEP is
currently constructing new Bluebelt systems in Staten Island and in Twin Pond, Queens, with plans to construct additional
Bluebelts in Staten Island and the Bronx in the future (NYC 2013).
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
PUBLICATIONS
EPA's Green Infrastructure webpage
Green Infrastructure (American Society of Landscape
Architects)
Sustainabilitv in the Water Sector (International Water
Association)
Low Impact Development Center publications
Stormwater Strategies (Natural Resources
Defense Council)
Rooftops to Rivers II (Natural Resources Defense
Council)
Integrating Valuation Methods to Recognize
Green Infrastructure's Multiple Benefits (Center
for Neighborhood Technology)
TOOLS
EPA Green Infrastructure - Links to Modeling Tools
Smart Growth/Smart Energy Toolkit: Low Impact
Development (State of Massachusetts)
National Low Impact Development Atlas (University of
Connecticut)
National Green Values Stormwater Management
Calculator (Center for Neighborhood Technology)
Green Roof Energy Calculator (Portland State
University
GIS Mapping Data on Existing Impervious Cover:
National Land Cover Database
International Stormwater BMP Database
Stormwater Report website (Water Environment
Federation)
FUNDING
EPA Green Infrastructure: Funding Options
EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund (with
information on EPA Green Project Reserve)
EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
Financing for Environmental Compliance -
Water Resources and Tools (EPA)
EPA Tools for Financing Water Infrastructure
USDA Rural Development Grants
University of North Carolina Environmental
Finance Center
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SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Return to Introduction
Significant amounts of energy are needed to support key water sector utility processes, including the pumping, production,
conveyance, treatment, distribution, discharge and reuse of water. Energy management refers to strategies to reduce energy
costs through changes in timing and amount of energy consumption while maintaining or improving services. Management
strategies include reducing energy demand, improving water and energy efficiency of system operations, energy optimization
and generating energy on-site via energy recovery methods or renewable sources. While many utilities pursue energy
management as part of best practices in the industry, others are managing energy use in response to budget limitations and
increased service demand. As climate continues to change, energy management will become increasingly integral to effective
utility management, adaptation and mitigation.
BENEFITS OF ENERGY MANAGEMENT AS PART OF AN ADAPTATION PLAN
Improve efficiency and build energy independence: Integrating more efficient equipment and processes into current
operations, coupled with establishing independent energy supplies, reduces risks associated with service interruptions
due to power outages and can improve predictability of future energy costs.
Increase operational flexibility and resilience of service: Sustainable use of existing water and energy resources can
reduce risks related to projected decreases in water supply and increases service demand. Energy management can
increase utility efficiency and help balance overall energy and water needs, particularly as utilities begin to consider other
adaptation options that may increase or decrease use.
Cost savings and opportunity to reinvest: More efficient use of water and energy often generates a net savings which
can be reinvested to help address other challenges such as the need for rate increases, the need to address gaps in
funding or can be used to support additional adaptation efforts.
Decrease carbon footprint: Implementing energy recovery or renewable energy projects can help increase sustainability
by reducing demand on electric grids, use of electricity and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Improve public image: Communicating energy management practices to customers can establish a utility as a leader in
pursuing financially and socially responsible actions. For example, wastewater utilities with successful on-site generation
are viewed as resource recoverers as opposed to waste producers.
GETTING STARTED WITH ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Depending on the unique challenges and opportunities at each utility, energy management can be approached
in several different ways. Utilities may want to build on strategies that have been successful in the past or pursue
new options. The following steps, which echo the Plan-Do-Check-Act approach found in EPA's Energy Management
Guidebook for Wastewater and Water Utilities, will help utilities get started with energy management.
Assess Current Energy Usage: Conduct an energy assessment or energy audit to understand energy use and begin
identifying areas for improvement. Use results of these assessments to examine existing utility goals and begin to
refine these goals or establish new goals to improve energy efficiency (see Resources section below).
Evaluate Budgets and Funding Opportunities: Determine availability of funds for energy management projects in
short- and long-term budgets. If necessary, research and pursue funding available from state and federal assistance
programs, foundations or community partners and energy performance contracting arrangements (see Resources
section below).
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GETTING STARTED (continued)
Identify Strategies: Based on the steps above, develop criteria and identify specific activities or projects to support
pursuit of adaptation options from the tables below. Review available resources, including case studies of effective
energy management strategies at other utilities, to help identify appropriate strategies.
Plan to Involve the Community: Reach out to customers to gauge interest in energy management and to discuss
potential energy management and water conservation initiatives. If a number of options are available, community
feedback may help in identifying demand management options that will have the greatest impact.
ADAPTATION OPTIONS
(SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES)
Options for including Energy Management practices as part of an overall adaptation strategy
are provided in the tables below. Successful approaches will vary depending on current
energy sources and utility type. Relative costs are provided on a qualitative scale ($ to $$$),
and indicates that an option could be considered a "No Regrets" strategy. For more
information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
Click on the rl icon to review the relevant Sustainability Brief.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT-PLANNING
Assess emissions footprint to develop a baseline for state or regional greenhouse gas emissions
assessments and evaluations.
jjj^ Conduct an energy audit and set goals for energy use, conservation, recovery or alternative power
^ supplies based on audit results.
j^. Develop an energy management team, including top-level management endorsement and
^^ support, and plan alternative power supplies to support operations in case of loss of power.
jซ| Assess energy implications (energy for treatment, conveyance and distribution) of any potential
^^ new source water (e.g., desalination plant, new wells).
|ป| Assess the marginal costs and payback periods for purchasing higher efficiency equipment as part
^ of regular utility upgrades.
Develop and use hydrologic models to project runoff, understand potential water quality changes
@) (e.g., increased turbidity) and costs of resultant changes in treatment and incorporate model results
into water supply planning.
Model energy demand or understand existing models of regional electricity demand under future
scenarios of climate change and regional growth.
Estimate the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from water conservation and
demand management.
Evaluate and compare the life cycle energy costs of potable and recycled water to gauge feasibility
of systems to reclaim and reuse water, including use of greywater in homes and businesses.
Train personnel on energy efficiency and optimization practices and utility energy management
goals and strategies, use short-term consumption forecasting and the effective use of automation.
Develop an energy management outreach plan and research opportunities for funding efficiency
measures from state and local government assistance programs and other funding sources.
Establish relationship with local power utility and workjointly towards power purchase agreements
(e.g., rate structure to encourage use during low-demand periods) and on strategies to reduce
seasonal or peak water and energy demands (e.g., water reclamation for use in power generation).
COST
$-$$
$-$$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 3
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WATER UTILITIES
SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: ENERGY MANAGEMENT
page 3 of 5
ENERGY MANAGEMENT - OPERATIONAL
Monitor utility energy use and evaluate progress towards goals (water and cost savings, emissions
i reductions) and optimize operations by restricting some energy-intensive activities to times of
reduced electricity demand (i.e., nighttime).
Assess current energy use by identifying energy intensive processes (using sub-metering) and
considering flows, load profiles, energy purchase design and operating schedules.
Reduce wastewater treatment plant loading by using equalization basins and system-wide leak
detection and repair to attenuate peak flows and loadings.
Practice best building practices including installation of high-efficiency lighting, and maintenance
of boilers, furnaces, high efficiency Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems,
motion sensor activating lighting, indirect fluorescent bulbs or using comprehensive lighting
controls.
Practice water conservation and demand management through public outreach, water metering
and offering rebates for water conserving appliances and fixtures.
jปl Maintain vehicles to maximize fuel efficiency and reduce associated costs and emissions and
^^ purchase fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles when replacing older models.
Install a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system for process monitoring and
^ operational control (data for energy use optimization, detection of problems and compensation
for seasonal or wet weather flows).
lปl Increase pumping efficiency by reducing and managing loads, modifying pumps, optimizing
^"^ motor and drive selection, or pursuing automated control.
IPH Increase aeration efficiency by adding fine bubble aeration, improving surface aerators, installing
^ more efficient motors, blower Variable Frequency Drives or automatic dissolved oxygen controls.
jjj^ Increase dewatering efficiency by replacing vacuum systems, installing premium motors or
*& Variable Frequency Drives for water pumps.
Practice conjunctive use (i.e., optimal use of surface water and groundwater).
Finance and facilitate water and wastewater projects to reclaim and reuse water, including use of
greywater in homes, businesses and for irrigation needs (e.g., city parks).
COST
$-$$
$-$$
$-$$
$-$$
$-$$
$-$$
$$
$-$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
ENERGY MANAGEMENT-CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE
@ Purchase energy efficient models when upgrading equipment (e.g., pumps, motors).
|gc| Establish alternative power supply via on-site power sources (renewable resources or energy
^^ recovery projects) or multiple grid supply lines.
jpH Build less energy-intensive treatment systems where feasible, including the use of natural systems
^ฎ? such as engineered wetlands.
l^l Implement green infrastructure on site to reduce energy use related to heating and cooling
^^ buildings.
lUl Diversify options to complement current water supply to include those that require less energy for
treatment, conveyance and distribution.
Implement cogeneration technology to generate electricity and recover heat on site using methane
off-gas from anaerobic digesters or from distribution (or collection) systems using turbines.
Build systems to reclaim and reuse wastewater for energy, industrial, agricultural or household use.
COST
$-$$$
$-$$
$$$
$-$$$
$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 4
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SEPA
WATER UTILITIES SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: ENERGY MANAGEMENT
page 4 of 5
EXAMPLE 1
Sheboygan Regional WastewaterTreatment Plant is managing its energy use in a way that is beneficial to both the
bottom line and the environment. In 2002, rising energy costs spurred this utility to conduct a study of its energy use,
establish a baseline for current use and investigate opportunities to increase system efficiency and generate power. Over
the next five years, a plan focused on these opportunities was developed and implemented, resulting in the following
changes to the plant's system operations and efficiency:
Motor upgrades and the installation of variable frequency devices reduced energy use by 157,000 KWh per year,
resulting in an annual savings in energy costs of $5,300.
A combined heat and power (CHP) system comprised of microturbines to generate 700 KW per year of electricity using
methane gas that was previously flared off as waste. This generation meets 90% of the utility's overall energy needs,
including provision of heat for the digesters and facility buildings.
Through partnerships with the City of Sheboygan and local power utilities, Sheboygan Regional Wastewater Treatment
Plant has been able to sell excess electricity generated by the CHP system back to the City.
A $901,000 investment in upgrades to the aeration system included the purchase of two energy efficient blowers and
air flow control valves for basins, which saves $63,000/year in energy costs.
Overall, the Sheboygan Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant has made a $2.5 million investment in these energy
management projects with a 7- to 8-year payback period based on annual savings of about $500,000 in energy costs.
By pursuing a more efficient energy system, Sheboygan Regional Wastewater Treatment is saving money and energy,
reducing the release of waste products (methane gas) into the environment and has built important relationships with
key partners in building sustainable practices across the City.
EXAMPLE 2
Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage System (WMARSS) serves approximately 175,000 people in the cities
around Waco, Texas. The concept of sustainability at WMARSS involves reconsidering byproducts formerly considered
"waste" as potential resources. The "waste to energy" initiative at WMARSS supports production of heat and energy from
concentrated high-strength organics/fat, oil and grease (HSO/FOG). Using HSO/FOG increases the production of methane
(or"biogas") from the anaerobic digestion process. Local food producers and restaurants provide 600,000 gallons of HSO/
FOG per month to the WMARSS facility. This partnership also provides the additional benefit of keeping FOG out of sewer
systems. The project expanded during the "Green Turkey Initiative" to accept fat, oil and grease from residents as well.
From their $3.17 million investment, WMARSS now produces 600,000 cubic feet of biogas per day to supply one-third of
the plant's electricity needs and 50% of the heating needs for its biosolids dryer/pelletizer.
WMARSS will continue to reap the benefits of its sustainable energy management practices through reduced costs,
increased efficiency, improved customer service and reduced reliance on purchased electricity. WMARSS has also
invested in other standard energy management practices, such as improvements to its aeration system at a cost of about
$400,000 and a payback period of 2.4 years.
EXAMPLE 3
The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) for the City of Portland, Oregon, has a history of improvements at its
Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant that conserve and manage energy to reduce costs and demonstrate
sustainable practices. Key areas of focus to manage energy have been to maximize the beneficial reuse of the digester
gas (methane or biogas) produced in the anaerobic digestion process, improve energy efficiency through motor and
lighting upgrades and control system improvements and prioritize energy efficiency improvements in new projects. A
new building to house staff is also under construction and will be LEED Gold certified.
Currently, approximately 80% of the biogas produced in the anaerobic digesters is used to produce electricity and
generate revenue. A large percentage of biogas is used in a combined heat and power (CHP) system which consists of
two 850 KW reciprocating engines. This facility produces approximately 40% of the plant's energy demand and saves BES
approximately $750,000 per year in energy costs. Biogas is also reused in boilers to provide heat in buildings and provide
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FORWATER UTILITIES Continued on page 5
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SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: ENERGY MANAGEMENT
page 5 of 5
EXAMPLE 3 (continued)
backup or supplemental heat to the cogeneration facility. Since the mid-1980s, approximately 25% of the biogas has
been sold to a local industrial facility, generating $300,000 in annual revenue. The remaining biogas (20%) is currently
flared as waste; however, BES is exploring plans to utilize this waste gas, include potential CHP expansion, production of a
compressed natural gas for vehicles or selling this gas to a local natural gas utility.
BES has pursued multiple options for energy management, focusing on small projects that have both quick paybacks and
continuing energy savings. In 2010, with the Energy Trust of Oregon's incentive program, BES completed two lighting retrofit
projects that reduce energy costs by an estimated $10,000 annually with a payback period of less than one year. In 2011, BES
upgraded the plant's compressed air system, which saves $17,000 per year. A current project will optimize dissolved oxygen
(DO) control in the activated sludge process, supporting more precise DO set points and saving approximately $30,000
annually. The payback period for these improvements, after incentives, is estimated to be seven years.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR ENERGY MANAGEMENT
PUBLICATIONS
Evaluation of Enerav Conservation Measures for EPA's State and Local Climate and Enerav website
Wastewater Treatment Facilities (EPA)
Ensurina a Sustainable Future: An Enerav Manaaement
Guidebook for Wastewater and Water Utilities (EPA)
Energy Efficiency for Water Utilities (EPA)
Water Reuse Guidelines (EPA)
EPA's Enerav Efficiency for Water and Wastewater
Utilities website
EPA's WaterSense website
Evaluation of Combined Heat and Power
Technologies for Wastewater Facilities
(Columbus Water Works)
Water Consumption Forecastina to Improve
Enerav Efficiency of Pumpina Operations
(Water Research Foundation/California Energy
Commission)
TOOLS
EPA Portfolio Manager (ENERGY STAR)
EPA Energy Use Assessment Tool
Water Energy SustainabilitvTool (UC Berkley)
Water Conservation Tracking Tool (Alliance for
Water Efficiency)
Water Energy Simulator (Pacific Institute)
FUNDING
Enerav Efficiency RFP Guidance for Water-Wastewater
Projects (Consortium for Energy Efficiency)
EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund (with
information on EPA Green Project Reserve)
EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
USDA Rural Development Grants
Financina for Environmental Compliance -Water
Resources and Tools (EPA)
EPA's Tools for Financina Water Infrastructure
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
vvEPA
Return to Introduction
SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
Population growth as well as climate change impacts, such as increasing temperatures and the increased risk of prolonged
periods of drought, can contribute to unsustainable demands on water services and thus increase the risk of water shortages.
Water demand management encompasses both water efficiency and conservation practices and can occur on the supply side
(related to drinking water utility actions to increase the efficiency of delivering water to customers) and the demand side (re-
lated to customer actions to reduce the amount of water used in homes and businesses). Water conservation is a cost-effective
method that can help meet current and future water needs in a sustainable manner. While many utilities pursue water demand
management as a part of best practices in the industry, others are looking to these practices in response to budget limitations
and increased service demand. As climate continues to change, water efficiency and conservation will become increasingly
integral to effective utility management, adaptation and mitigation.
BENEFITS OF WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT AS PART OF AN ADAPTATION PLAN
Increase operational flexibility and resilience of service: Sustainable use of existing water resources can reduce risks
related to projected decreases in water supply and increases in service demand. Water conservation reduces the need
to develop new source water supplies or to expand the infrastructure at water and wastewater facilities. Water efficiency
and conservation programs can preserve natural resources and increase the sustainability of water supplies, leaving more
water for future use and improving the ambient water quality and aquatic habitat.
Cost savings and opportunity to reinvest: More efficient use of water often reduces operating and treatment costs,
resulting in a net savings which can be reinvested to help address other challenges - such as the need for rate increases, the
need to address gaps in funding or can be used to support additional adaptation efforts. When faced with potential water
shortages, developing and implementing water efficiency and conservation measures almost always involves a lower cost
than developing a new water source or expanding water or wastewater infrastructure to meet demand or other goals.
Deferred and avoided capital investments: Water demand management practices will often allow the utility to
continue to meet water demand without needing to expand existing facilities or build new facilities. Water demand
management can also extend the life of existing facilities.
Maintain environmental benefits of water resources: Reduced water consumption helps to maintain reservoir water
levels and groundwater tables, and supports the use of lakes, rivers and streams for recreation and wildlife. When use of
these resources reduces surface or groundwater levels, natural and human pollutant levels can increase and threaten
human and ecological health. Using water more efficiently helps maintain supplies at safe levels, protecting human health
and the environment.
Decrease carbon footprint: The delivery of water requires energy to pump, treat and distribute water. End users also use
energy to heat water for certain uses. Implementing water efficiency and conservation projects can reduce the amount
of water withdrawals from sources and demand on wastewater services, thereby reducing energy needs and associated
greenhouse gas emissions. Use of more water efficient products by customers can also decrease energy needed to heat water.
Improve public image: Communicating utility actions to increase water efficiency and encouraging water conservation
practices to customers can establish a utility as a steward of local water resources and a leader in pursuing financially and
socially responsible actions.
GETTING STARTED WITH WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
Depending on the unique challenges and opportunities at each utility, water efficiency and conservation can be
approached in several different ways. Utilities may want to build upon strategies that have been successful in the past
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES Continued on page 2
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
page 2 of6
GETTING STARTED (continued)
or pursue new options. The following steps will help utilities get started. More information on developing a water
conservation plan for your utility can be found in EPA's Water Conservation Plan Guidelines.
Assess Current Water Usage: Review overall current and historical water use by customer class and consider how
usage may need to be reduced considering changes in the future availability of water. Conduct a water audit using the
International Water Association (IWA)/American Waterworks Association (AWWA) Water Audit Method to understand
water use and non-revenue water (which includes real and apparent water losses), and begin identifying areas for
improvement. Use results of these assessments to examine existing utility goals and begin to refine these goals or
establish new goals to improve water efficiency and customer conservation practices (see Resources section below).
Evaluate Budgets and Funding Opportunities: Determine availability of funds for water efficiency and conservation
projects in short- and long-term budgets. If necessary, research and pursue funding available from state and federal
assistance programs, foundations or community partners and energy performance contracting arrangements (see
Resources section below).
Identify Strategies: Based on the steps above, develop criteria and identify specific activities or projects to support
pursuit of adaptation options from the tables below. Review available resources, including case studies of effective
water conservation strategies at other utilities, to help identify appropriate strategies.
Plan to Involve the Community: Water conservation offers many benefits to customers and society. Involving the
community in goal development and implementation serves an important educational function, and can enhance
the success of the program. Educational programs for utility employees, customers and school children are vital to the
success of a water conservation program.
Become a WaterSense partner: EPA's WaterSense program provides excel lent resources on water conservation
practices, as well as communication tools.
ADAPTATION OPTIONS
(SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES)
Options for including Water Demand Management in an overall adaptation strategy are
provided in the tables below. Relative costs are provided on a qualitative scale ($ to $$$),
and indicates that an option could be considered a "No Regrets" strategy. For more
information on No Regrets options, see Page 11 in the Introduction.
WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT - PLANNING
Identify a water efficiency coordinator for the utility and establish a water efficiency team, including
top-level management endorsement and support.
^p Conduct training for utility staff on water conservation policies and goals.
Review water use by customer classes, set goals for use and develop a water conservation plan.
|y| Consider strategies for reducing water use by municipal, residential, commercial, institutional and
industrial users.
Review the utility rate structure and ensure that it encourages water efficiency. Consider using non-
promotional pricing structures such as inclining tier rates, excess use rates and seasonal rates.
Conduct water loss audits using the IWA/AWWA Water Audit Method (see resources) and set goals
HH for reductions in water loss that will inform a water loss management program. Water losses may
be real (e.g., from leaks) or apparent (e.g., meter inaccuracy, unauthorized consumption).
jj^ Conduct an audit of water use in utility operations (e.g., solids handling in wastewater treatment
^ operations) and determine opportunities to reduce water use.
Conduct water use audits of homes, businesses and industries to provide information to customers
about how water is used and how usage can be reduced.
Incorporate water conservation actions and associated cost savings into utility water demand
forecasting and integrated resources planning.
Estimate the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from water conservation and demand
management measures.
COST
$
$
$
$-$$
$-$$
$
$$
$
$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 3
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SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
page 3 of6
WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT - PLANNING (continued)
Evaluate and compare the life cycle energy costs of potable and recycled water to gauge feasibility of
a system to reclaim and reuse water, including use of greywater in homes and businesses. Consider
evaluating the use of recycled water for irrigation.
Develop a comprehensive outreach and education program for residential, industrial and commercial
customers as well as schools to encourage water conservation. Provide water conservation literature to
new customers when they apply for service.
Include water conservation measures in the utility's drought contingency plan and establish
^^ conditions where it may be necessary to implement emergency water conservation measures and
W water restrictions throughout the service area. Determine how to communicate acceptable and
unacceptable water usage to customers.
^. Research opportunities for financing water efficiency measures from state and local government
^^ assistance programs and other funding sources.
Establish a process to monitor utility water use and evaluate progress towards goals (utility water loss
reductions and customer water usage, cost savings, energy savings and emissions reductions).
COST
$-$$
$
$-$$
$
$-$$
WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT - OPERATIONAL
Implement a universal metering program, including plans for meter testing, repair and periodic
|P replacement. Install water meters in previously unmetered areas (if rate structure is based on
metered use).
9 Implement a water-loss management program for leak detection and repair as well as water loss
for the water transmission, delivery and distribution system.
|ป Minimize the water used in space cooling equipment in accordance with manufacturers'
^ recommendations. Shut off cooling units when not needed.
^| Ensure that fire hydrants are tamper proof to eliminate unauthorized consumption of water.
Provide retrofit kits for residences and businesses for free or at cost. Kits may contain WaterSense
labeled faucet aerators, showerheads, leak detection tablets and replacement valves. Consider offering
an installation program to retrofit plumbing devices in the service area.
jsfc Offer incentive programs (rebates/tax credits) to homeowners and businesses to encourage
^ replacement of plumbing fixtures and appliances with water-efficient models.
Promote water-efficient landscape practices for homeowners and businesses, especially those with
lป large, irrigated properties. Practices include use of native plants, landscape renovation to reduce
^^ water use, use of irrigation professionals certified by a WaterSense labeled program and more
efficient irrigation.
Reduce agricultural and irrigation water demand by working with irrigators to install advanced
equipment (e.g., drip or other micro-irrigation systems with water-linked controls).
Finance and facilitate water and wastewater projects to reclaim and reuse water, including use of
greywater in homes, businesses and for irrigation needs (e.g., city parks).
If permitted by local ordinances, encourage industrial and commercial customers to harvest rainwater
and to collect condensate from large cooling systems to be used on-site for irrigation and other non-
potable uses.
^ Enforce or support regulations, ordinances or terms of service that prohibit water waste and
^ address irrigation and other design inefficiencies and misuses of water.
COST
$$
$-$$
$$
$$
$-$$
$$
$-$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$-$$
$-$$
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 4
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SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
page 4 of6
WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT - CAPITAL/INFRASTRUCTURE
COST
Install high-efficiency WaterSense labeled faucet aerators, showerheads and labeled toilets, or retrofit
water-saving devices in municipal buildings. Replace municipal appliances or equipment with water-
saving models at the end of their life cycle.
Eliminate "once-through" cooling of equipment with municipal water by recycling water flow to a
cooling tower or by utilizing air-cooled equipment.
^. Reduce inflow and infiltration into the sewer system by increasing control measures to decrease
^^ the volume of water to be pumped and treated.
Replace or rehabilitate finished water storage tanks to minimize water loss.
Replace broken water meters or upgrade existing meters with automatic meter reading systems,
advanced metering infrastructure, smart meters and meters with built-in leak detection. Install
backflow prevention devices in conjunction with meter replacement.
Build systems to reclaim and reuse wastewater for energy, industrial, agricultural or household use.
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$-$$$
$$$
EXAMPLE 1
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) has implemented a Water Demand Management Plan
with the goal of reducing water consumption by 5% by 2020. The plan has five key strategies, one of which focuses on
improving water efficiency at public facilities, including NYCDEP's 14 wastewater treatment plants. In 2012, the City
designed an audit to review water usage at the wastewater plants, which consume approximately 7.3 million gallons
per day (MGD) of potable water. The audits found that water use as a percent of dry weather flows varied from 0.21 to
4.77%. In addition to identifying opportunities to reduce water in different plant processes, the audits also evaluated
the potential for replacing city potable water with effluent water for some processes. Overall, NYCDEP estimates that 2.1
MGD could be saved through efficiency actions. Another important outcome from the audit indicated that between 4 to
68% of each plant's pump process water usage could be decreased by replacing old pumps that use packing with pumps
that use mechanical seals. In response, NYCDEP has changed its design guidelines to specific use of mechanical seals for
any new pumps.
For more information, visit: http://www.nvc.gov/html/dep/html/wavs to save water/index.shtml.
EXAMPLE 2
The San Antonio Water System (SAWS) in Texas has an extensive and widely respected water conservation program. SAWS
has fully integrated water conservation into its water resource management planning and factors potential savings into water
and wastewater capital improvement plans. In large part due to prudent and strategic conservation programs starting in the
1980s, SAWS has eliminated the demand for a water supply project of approximately 120,000 acre-feet per year. This proactive
planning approach has saved the utility billions of dollars in capital expenses and annual operating expenses. As SAWS plans
to meet the demands of an increasing population, the utility is projecting that water conservation and recycling in a drought
year will account for 20% of its water portfolio by the year 2030. Reasonable drought restrictions on discretionary uses play
an important role in the utility's drought management plan, when mandatory measures are imposed to ensure reliable water
service for essential uses such as indoor consumption, as well as commercial and industrial applications.
For more information, visit: http://www.saws.org/conservation/.
http://www.saws.org/Your Water/WaterResources/2012 WMP/.
EXAMPLE 3
The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) and its member agencies supply water to approximately 2 million people and
more than 40 million annual visitors. The SNWA currently draws about 90 percent of the community's water supply from
the Colorado River via Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the United States. During the past decade, the impact
of drought has caused Lake Mead elevations to decline by more than 100 feet, representing a storage loss of more than 4
trillion gallons. The SNWA is concerned about further reductions in streamflow from climate change and increased demands.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
Continued on page 5
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WATER UTILITIES SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
page 5 of6
EXAMPLE 3 (continued)
A study conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Colorado River Basin States projected a 3.2 million acre-foot annual
imbalance between supply and demand for the Colorado River Basin by 2060 (Bureau of Reclamation 2012). For the SNWA,
reduced Colorado River streamflow would result in lower levels in Lake Mead, the potential loss of the ability to withdraw
water from existing intakes, reduced water quality at withdrawal locations, and increased power requirements to pump water a
greater vertical distance..
To ensure a reliable supply for residents and visitors into the future, the SNWA more than a decade ago launched an extensive
water conservation program; it is also investing in significant infrastructure enhancements related to its Lake Mead intakes.
Demand management practices (i.e., education, incentives, regulation and rates) have reduced consumptive water use
by 32 percent since 2000, even as the population has increased by nearly half a million. Examples of successful strategies
include: incentives for homeowners and commercial properties that convert turf to water efficient landscapes; working with
landscapers in the area to provide them with water-efficient irrigation technology; rebates on pool covers; and time/day
restrictions on landscape irrigation, including for commercial customers. Infrastructure enhancements include the completion
of a second intake, ongoing construction of a third deeper intake in Lake Mead, additional water treatment capacity using
ozone, and distribution system expansions.
The SNWA is also using EPA's Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) to evaluate a number of physical
adaptation measures to address the impacts related to declining lake levels. These options include infrastructure
improvements to ensure operability at lower lake levels and constructing a new intake that can withdraw water from deeper in
the lake where the water is cooler and of higher quality.
Despite the agency's successful conservation strategies, reservoir levels may continue to decline. Even if SNWA stopped
withdrawing water entirely for a year, Lake Mead would only rise by approximately 3 feet, given its current elevation, which
would do little to offset the 100 feet of decline that has been seen in the past 14 years. Recognizing this, SNWA has made it a
priority to work with the other states that rely on the Colorado River and Mexico to develop innovative solutions through key
partnerships (Bureau of Reclamation 2012).
For more information, visit: http://www.snwa.com/ws/resource plan.html.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR WATER CONSERVATION
PUBLICATIONS
EPA's WaterSense website* Control and Mitigation of Drinking Water Losses
Water Audits and Water Loss Control for Public Water in Distribution Systems (EPA)
Systems (EPA) Texas Water Development Board Water
Water Conservation Communications Guide (American Conservation Best Management Practices for
Water Works Association [AWWA]) Municipal Water Providers
Water Conservation Resource Community** (AWWA) Colorado Waterwise Guidebook of Best Practices
Water Loss Control Resource Community- (AWWA) for Municipal Water Conservation
Water Sense Guidelines for Preparing Water Conservation ' Water Efficiency Resource Library (Alliance for
Plans (EPA) Water Efficiency)
*Utilities that sign up as a WaterSense promotional partner (free) can receive access to tools to help them carry out water conservation programs.
"Requires non-AWWA members to register (free) to access some information.
CUSTOMER OUTREACH EXAMPLES
Save Dallas Water and Save Tarrant Water- Regional Be Water Wise - Metropolitan Water District of
efforts of North Texas Utilities Southern California and Southern California
Save Our Water - California Department of Water Water Agencies
Resources and the Association of California Water Saving Water Partnership - Seattle and King
Agencies County utilities
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FORWATER UTILITIES Continued on page 6
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CLIMATE READY
WATER UTILITIES
SUSTAINABILITY BRIEF: WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
page 6 of6
AWWA Water Audit Software
Water Conservation Toolbox for Water Suppliers
(Metropolitan Council, Minnesota)
TOOLS
Water Conservation Tracking Tool (Alliance for
Water Efficiency)
FUNDING*
EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund (with
information on EPA Green Project Reserve)
EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
EPA's Tools for Financing Water Infrastructure
Utility Financial Sustainabilitv and Rates Dashboard
(University of North Carolina Environmental Finance
Center)
USDA Rural Development Grants
EPA's Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for
Watershed Protection
Bureau of Reclamation Water & Energy Efficiency
Grants (for Reclamation states)
*Many states have funding programs that can fund water efficiency and conservation activities.
ADAPTATION STRATEGIES GUIDE FOR WATER UTILITIES
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Climate Ready Water Utilities
Adaptation Strategies Guide for Water Utilities
CLIMATE READY
.WATER UTILITIES
Office of Water (4608-T) EPA 817-K-15-001 February 2015
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