Climate Change Risks Impacting U.S. Drinking Water Utilities
Climate Change Risks Impacting U.S. Drinking Water Utilities
US · Published Jan 27, 2026
Study evaluates climate change risks to 42,786 U.S. drinking water utilities.
Utilities face financial and physical vulnerabilities including increased operating costs and infrastructure damage.
Proactive adaptation strategies are crucial for ensuring long-term sustainability of U.S. drinking water supplies.
Climate change impacts on water utilities assessed
A new study has assessed the climate change risks confronting 42,786 drinking water utilities in the contiguous United States. The analysis employs a multi-hazard methodology, taking into account factors such as extreme heat, precipitation variations, freeze-thaw cycles, sea level rise, wildfires, and water supply stress. The study leverages climate projections from the U.S. Government’s Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation tool and the Climate Risk and Resilience Portal dataset. The Relative Concentration Pathway 4.5 climate emission scenario was utilized, with projections derived from Localized Constructed Analogs downscaled climate model ensembles. The research connects service area boundaries for all U.S. community water systems with system information from the Safe Drinking Water Information System database. The study underscores the financial and physical vulnerabilities of utilities, including increased operating expenses, revenue losses from service interruptions, and elevated capital costs attributed to climate impacts.
Related News