Water Solutions
Significant changes in regional climates could profoundly affect the availability
and costs of water supplies, erode the quality of remaining water supplies, and
increase the risks of water-related damage from storms, coastal erosion, etc. These
threats are real but not yet well-defined. Water suppliers, regulators, customers
and other stakeholders must work together to craft robust long-term strategies and
implement cost-effective solutions for mitigating – and, if necessary – adapting
to the potential effects of climate change.
Integrated Water Planning
This approach considers water supply options, enhanced water efficiency options,
wastewater disposal and flood risk management on a holistic basis. Integrated water
planning can greatly increase the efficiency of investments to develop further or
protect the water infrastructure, as anticipated changes in water patterns and growing
scarcity of the resource are addressed.
Advanced Water Modeling
Planners also must improve their understanding of the effects of global warming
on precipitation patterns, snow pack, run-off, storage, estuarine salinity, treatment
requirements, etc. This understanding will require much more granular analysis in
water demand and supply models of climate change’s manifestations at the local level,
both for short-term and longer-term planning.
Portfolio Diversification
Traditional water supplies may no longer prove adequate, especially in regions dependent
on seasonal snow packs or rainfall surpluses that could be shrinking. Existing water
supplies will have to be stretched through conservation and efficiency programs;
prices that are more reflective of marginal costs; use of greywater and harvesting
of rainwater for non-potable needs; more intensive re-use of treated wastewater;
and leak reduction programs across the water supply chain.
New supplies from a number of traditional and non-traditional sources will deserve
closer evaluation: groundwater, stormwater run-off, desalinization and inter-regional
transfers. Each of these types of sources has its own set of treatment and transportation
issues, which may bring into play more advanced technologies for biosolids management,
disinfection and nutrient removal, and various membrane processes. The value of
multi-year storage will certainly increase.
Flood and Storm Mitigation/Adaptation
Global warming is expected to increase the severity of storms and major flood events.
Risks will increase for river, coastal and urban flooding. Design criteria for new
water facilities will incorporate these new risks. Existing facilities (such as
levees, canal systems, plants in flood plains or along coasts), were designed for
lower, historically based flood risks. Many facilities will require strengthening.
Sewerage and stormwater systems also may need adaptations for greater frequency
of extreme storm events. Communications and other disaster response systems will
need upgrades.
Finally, one of the most effective – but politically difficult – adaptation measures
will be to increase incentives for people and their structures to relocate to areas
less exposed to flood and storm risk.
Black & Veatch has water solutions for: