Interviews with drinking water utility managers reveal understandingof climate hazards and status of climate adaptation planning. Climate change hazards, including increased temperatures,drought,sea level rise, extreme precipitation, wildfires, and changes in freeze-thawcycles, are expected to degrade drinking water utility system infrastructureand decrease the reliability of water provision. To assess how drinkingwater utility manager perceptions of these risks affect utility planning,60 semistructured interviews were conducted with utilities of varioussizes, source water supplies, and United States geographical regions.This study analyzes these interviews (1) to evaluate which climatehazards are of primary concern to drinking water managers, (2) todevelop a mental model framework for assessing utility-level understandingof climate change risks to system reliability, and (3) to examinethe status of current water utility adaptation planning. The resultsshow that concern and awareness of climate hazard risks vary geographicallyand are grounded in historical exposure; some participants do notbelieve climate change will influence their system's overallreliability. When considering climate change risks, utility managerstend to focus on effects to water supply and infrastructure, as opposedto changes in operations and maintenance, water quality, or businessfunctions. Most surveyed utilities do not have comprehensive climateadaptation plans despite federal and professional recommendations.The range of beliefs and actions concerning climate adaptation planningindicates that utilities need directed guidance, and policymakersshould consider including climate hazards and projections as partof required utility risk and resilience assessments.
Lyle, ZJ; VanBriesen, JM; Samaras, C
Drinking Water Utility-Level Understanding of Climate Change Effects to System Reliability
Acs Es&T Water