WRF’s Latest Climate Change Research

Climate change is altering the natural hydrologic cycle, creating uncertainty around the quality and quantity of water resources. As a result, utilities are assessing their current practices and seeking solutions that will meet varying, more unpredictable conditions. The Water Research Foundation’s (WRF’s) research helps guide the water sector in these efforts by increasing knowledge about the impacts of climate change, adaptation strategies, and mitigation of root causes. Over the years, WRF has supported more than 70 research projects focused on climate change. The most recent projects are listed below. You can also learn more about all of WRF’s climate change projects at www.waterrf.org/research/topics/climate-change#cc-project-list.

Recently Completed Projects

These seven projects were completed in the past few years and serve as great resources for utilities looking to address climate change in their communities:

• An Enhanced Climate-Related Risks and Opportunities Framework and Guidebook for Water Utilities Preparing for a Changing Climate (5056)
• Climate-Resilient Planning for Urban Stormwater and Wastewater Utilities: Workshop Proceedings (5001)
• Community-enabled Lifecycle Analysis of Stormwater Infrastructure Costs (CLASIC)
• Conveyance Asset Prediction System (CAPS): Modeling and Mitigation (4885)
• Long Term Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Water Enterprise - Phase I (4703)
• Mapping Climate Exposure and Climate Information Needs to Water Utility Business Functions (4729)
• Using Climate Information in Water Utility Planning (5054)

Ongoing Projects

Two ongoing research projects have project updates and other deliverables available.

• Enhancement of Resilience to Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Proactive Flood Management (4842)
• Holistic and Innovative Approaches for Flood Mitigation Planning and Modeling under Extreme Wet Weather Events and Climate Impacts (5084)

Coming Soon!

Twenty-one new projects have just been funded by WRF, some of which relate to climate change impacts and mitigation. Utilities and subject matter experts can get involved in these new projects as participating utilities or Project Advisory Committee members. For more information on how to participate, visit WRF’s website. It is anticipated that Requests for Proposals for these projects will be released in September. Check the Advance Notice webpage for project objectives.

• Advancing the Disinfection from Wet Weather‐Driven Sewer Overflows: Best Practices and Case Studies
• Advancing the Understanding of the Next Largest Source of Utility GHG Emissions through Enhanced Whole‐Plant Monitoring and Quantification
• Developing a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Library for Unit Processes by Water and Wastewater Utilities and Decentralized Systems
• Integrating Nature-Based Solutions and Conventional/Gray Infrastructure to Optimize Treatment Performance
• Maximizing and Accounting for the Value of Natural Assets and Green Infrastructure at Watershed Scale