How to Address Climate Change Risks on Water Resources in Urban Areas

One of the many environmental and public-health problems incurred by climate change is the negative impact on water resources in urban areas. According to the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the effects of climate change on water quality and availability are significant, including shortages and contamination that directly affect human health and the proper functioning of urban businesses and government. While climate change has already negatively affected urban water supplies in the United States and abroad, there are steps that can be taken by both individuals and governments to address present and future risks.

Instructions

• 1

  Identify urban water resource risks. The region in which an urban area is located affects the degree and nature of climate change risks to available water supplies. As the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies describes, the threats posed by climate change differ depending on an urban area's proximity to freshwater supplies, industrial agriculture and industry. Industrial activities, which contribute to climate change, can also negatively affect the quality of freshwater resources. According to the Climate Institute, the degradation of water quality can be a major factor contributing to water scarcity.

• 2

  Identify local water needs. In order to effectively address climate change risks to urban water supplies, it is necessary to determine the water needs of the local population and local industries. Evaluating the level of need can help to identify where excessive use is occurring, as well as potential sources of contamination. Additionally, in order to plan against possible scarcity, urban areas need to evaluate the volume of water needed for domestic and industrial use as well as urban agriculture, if relevant.

• 3

  Conserve water resources. One of the most effective steps in addressing risks to urban water resources is conservation. In areas vulnerable to scarcity, limits should be imposed on nonessential water use such as water used for lawns and gardens that do not grow food. Households should be encouraged to take showers instead of baths and not leave the faucet running unnecessarily when washing dishes or brushing teeth.

• 4

  Enforce environmental standards. Contamination of precious water resources is both a consequence of and a contributor to the negative effects of climate change. One important step in addressing risks to water is ensuring that industrial activities do not cause undue environmental damage to freshwater resources. The Environmental Protection Agency maintains that preserving the health of water supplies is especially critical in areas experiencing population growth and the creation of new industries, as both make heavy demands on limited supplies.

• 5

  Limit greenhouse-gas emissions. Greenhouse-gas emissions from homes, cars, agriculture and industry are the primary cause of man-made climate change. They result in not only an increase in average global temperature, but also in atmospheric pollution that contaminates water resources. Thus, the most critical step in addressing the risks of climate change to urban water supplies is to decrease greenhouse-gas emissions by utilizing more sustainable forms of energy and decreasing global reliance on fossil fuels.

• 6

  Explore alternative water resources. With the increasing constraints on urban water supplies due to scarcity and diminished quality, many urban areas have begun to invest in new technologies for wastewater reuse and desalination. Recycled wastewater can be used for many industrial activities as well as for flushing toilets. Desalination techniques convert saltwater to fresh water for human consumption. However, as of 2011, these processes are costly and energy-intensive, and as a result are not yet widespread.