Over the past 40 years water-related billion-dollar climate disasters show an increasing trend with risks borne disproportionately by frontline communities.
Source: Water Chapter, Fifth National Climate Assessment, Payton et al. 2023
Severe California drought from 2012 to 2016 led to reports of water-supply outages in more than 4,000 shallow wells serving households and small communities across the state.
Source: Feinstein et al. 2017
Critical water infrastructure in many parts of the US is reaching the end of its design life compounding climate change risks especially for frontline communities.
Source: Water Chapter, Fourth National Climate Assessment, Lall et al. (2018)
Series Overview
Climate change, an ever-growing crisis, is damaging water systems and challenging access to clean drinking water and sanitation in the United States. As the climate crisis escalates, so do the risks: an altered water cycle, more extreme weather events, and deteriorating water infrastructure compounding stressors for already overburdened and under-resourced communities.
The Pacific Institute, DigDeep, and the Center for Water Security and Cooperation have decades of combined experience working with and for communities to address water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) challenges in the US. Together, we have united to support the realization of equitable, sustainable, climate-resilient WASH for all.
To this end, this series aims to contribute to closing knowledge gaps at the intersection of climate change, water, and equity in the United States. While individually, these topics have received substantial attention, more work is needed to elucidate how and where they intersect. This series addresses this gap by synthesizing the state of knowledge on the impacts of climate change to water and sanitation for frontline communities, laws and policies that address water, sanitation, and climate change, and strategies and approaches to achieving equitable, climate-resilient water and sanitation.
Publications
Report | Climate Change Impacts to Water and Sanitation for Frontline Communities in the United States: Water, Sanitation, and Climate Change in the United States, Part 1
This report delves into how six key climate phenomena – extreme temperatures, drought, inland flooding, sea level rise, extreme storms, and wildfires – are each affecting water resources and water and sanitation systems. It offers a synthesis of these impacts, highlighting the disproportionate burdens shouldered by frontline communities. It aims to provide a foundational understanding of the complex relationship between climate change, water, and equity, setting the stage for further exploration in subsequent reports.
“By delving into the intersection of water, sanitation, and climate change, this report makes a unique contribution to our understanding of a national crisis. It highlights the necessity of addressing climate impacts in tandem with water and sanitation issues to effectively support frontline communities.”
Alexandra Campbell-Ferrari, Executive Director of the Center for Water Security and Cooperation.
Report | Law and Policies that Address Equitable, Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation: Water, Sanitation, and Climate Change in the United States, Part 2
This report reveals how existing laws and policies fail to protect water and sanitation systems from climate change impacts in frontline communities across the United States. It examines federal, Tribal, state, and local laws and policies governing centralized drinking water and wastewater systems, as well as decentralized onsite drinking water and sanitation systems. The report underscores that existing laws and policies do not recognize water and sanitation as human rights nor adequately protect against climate impacts, threatening to widen the water access gap. The report also addresses several considerations for the development of future laws and policies. It highlights the importance of explicitly considering how laws and policies influence the ways that climate change will impact water availability, services, and access; the design, location, and operation of water and sanitation infrastructure; and the quality of drinking water.
“This report lays the groundwork for a more comprehensive evaluation of the existing legal and policy gaps to enable the design of drinking water and sanitation laws that are more responsive to climate change.“
Dr. Shannon McNeeley, Senior Researcher and Water and Climate Equity Lead at the Pacific Institute.
Blog | The Climate Crisis is a WASH* Crisis
This blog provides a short summary of some early key findings and examples of climate impacts to WASH for frontline communities in the United States.
“The staggering reality that millions in the U.S. lack basic water services underscores the urgent need for systemic change. We’re at a critical juncture where investing in climate-resilient water infrastructure is not just a necessity for public health but a fundamental step towards social justice and equity.”
Kimberly Lemme, Executive Director of DigDeep Labs.
To learn more about this series write to:
wce@pacinst.org with ‘Water, Sanitation & Climate Change in US Series’ in the subject line
Media Highlights
As water rates soar, legislators seek funding for assistance – Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
The Water Crisis in the Dominican Republic: Urgent Reforms, Invest… (medriva.com)
Upcoming
Law and Policies that Address Water, Sanitation, and Climate Change: Water, Sanitation, and Climate Change in the United States, Part 2
Part 2 of this series will examine the laws and policies in the United States that govern and inform water and sanitation service provision and infrastructure, and whether and how they address climate change.
Achieving Equitable, Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation for Frontline Communities: Water, Sanitation, and Climate Change in the United States, Part 3
Part 3 of this series will identify the attributes of equitable, climate-resilient water and sanitation systems, as well as strategies and approaches for achieving it.