Journal AWWA examines climate change

Source: Journal AWWA Staff

What water utility managers should be thinking and doing now about global warming gets top billing in the June issue of the Journal, AWWA's authoritative professional and a scholarly publication for the international water community.

This month's issue features a number of articles by water utility experts describing a utility case study on planning for the uncertain effects of climate change on supplies and operations, reviewing a protocol being used by British and Australian water managers for assessing a utility's carbon footprint, and detailing a framework for assessing the water management risks of global warming.

In an article titled "Climate change: Charting a water course in an uncertain future," Michael J. Wallis, director of operations and maintenance for California's East Bay Municipal District, details findings of a comprehensive case study at EBMUD on strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate changes.

Joined by EBMUD managers of regulatory compliance and of water treatment and distribution, Wallis concludes that the utility's "work on assessing its vulnerabilities to climate change, integrating climate change considerations into the organizational structure and into long-range water supply planning and budget development programs, and developing greenhouse gas mitigation strategies illustrates how water utilities can be proactive in their efforts."

In a second article titled "Assessing the carbon footprint of water production," an international team of Black & Veatch engineeres led by Justin Strutt from the firm's office in Redhill, England, describes initiatives by British and Australian utilities to better understand and manage the environmental impact of their water production by using a protocol to conduct carbon footprint analyses.

Developed in the United Kingdom, where regulation of greenhouse gas emissions for large industry is mandatory, the article details how various utility activities are defined, information about power and potential GHG emissions is gathered, and the GHGs are converted to carbon dioxide equivalents to create a baseline CF to guide decisions about sustainable operations and construction projects.

"Incorporating climate change in water planning" is the title of a third article by a team of CH2M HILL experts led by Kathy Freas, the company's lead for water resources and ecosystem management services. Freas et al describe two powerful tools—climate change risk assessment and total water management—that can be used to determine the vulnerability of water management systems to climate change.

This article provides tools, resources, examples, and new, holistic solutions that that can be used to manage both the built and natural portions of the water cycle.

Access these and additional articles on climate change and other important issues in e-Journal AWWA, the online version of AWWA's flagship publication.