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Climate Change

Climate change is altering our natural hydrologic cycle, creating uncertainty when it comes to the quality and quantity of water sources. WRF’s research on climate change covers the key areas of climate risk assessment, climate adaptation, and mitigation strategies.

Because the first step in preparing for climate change is understanding the potential and variable impacts these changes can have on water sources and treatment systems, WRF research tracks potential outcomes, considering a variety of possibilities, and provides resources and tools to help facilities identify and address risks and vulnerabilities in their operations and infrastructure.

Implementing climate change adaptation strategies will be critical as the water sector moves forward. WRF’s research in this area helps utilities create better long- and short-term adaptation plans, respond more effectively to severe weather, and improve infrastructure and operations to meet changing needs, including the production of onsite energy systems and reliable back-up power to protect critical services.

The water sector must also have a hand in mitigating the root causes of climate change. By pioneering approaches to improve energy efficiency, including process optimization, improved energy management, and the use of renewable energy, WRF is helping the water sector decrease activity that is driving these changes.

For more information, contact Harry Zhang.

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72 Projects 4 Web Tools 2 Case Studies 17 Webcasts
Emergency Response & Preparedness
Resilience
Water Supply Planning
Wildfires
Project #5084

Holistic and Innovative Approaches for Flood Mitigation Planning and Modeling under Extreme Wet Weather Events and Climate Impacts

$385,485
2024
In Progress

Project Highlights

Municipalities and utilities are facing unprecedented challenges in planning for extreme precipitation and flooding events, which are occurring more frequently and unpredictably. A holistic approach to flood mitigation planning and modeling, including partnerships between stakeholders, is needed to balance competing...

View more details
May 1, 2021
Principal Investigator
Eric
Hersh
Research Manager
Dr. Harry Zhang, Ph.D., PE

Recent Project Updates

Project #5084
Holistic and Innovative Approaches for Flood Mitigation Planning and...

Reporting Period:  December 2021-May 2022 

The project team has conducted fifteen interviews with utility participants

Project Update
09/14/2022
Project #4842
Enhancement of Resilience to Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Proactive...

Reporting Period: May 2020 - October 2020. During this project period, there was a series of...

Project Update
12/18/2020
Project #4842
Enhancement of Resilience to Extreme Weather and Climate Events: Proactive...

Reporting Period: February 2021 – October 2021. Over the preceding 6 months, work on the project...

Project Update
02/18/2022
Project #5086
Case Studies on Water Sector Interdependencies

Reporting Period: August 1, 2021 – February 15, 2022 The research team has completed all interviews...

Project Update
05/20/2022
Project #5084
Holistic and Innovative Approaches for Flood Mitigation Planning and...

Reporting Period: May 2021 – November 2021. The project team has collected and summarized relevant literature...

Project Update
01/26/2022
Project #5086
Case Studies on Water Sector Interdependencies

Reporting Period: May 1, 2021 – July 31, 2021. This project is in the early stages...

Project Update
12/10/2021
Project #5061
Carlsbad Desalinated Seawater Integration (Phase II) and Regional...

Reporting Period: December 2021 - June 2022

Project Update
10/28/2022
Project #4969
One Water Cities: Development of Guidance Documents and Assessment...

Reporting Period: October 16, 2021 - April 15, 2022

Project Update
10/04/2022
Project #4841
Assessing the State of Knowledge and Research Needs for Stormwater...

Reporting Period: October 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020. Activities to-date include conducting the project kick-off...

Project Update
01/22/2021
Project #4841
Assessing the State of Knowledge and Research Needs for Stormwater...

Reporting Period: April 1, 2021 to July 1, 2021. Key work efforts completed during the period...

Project Update
10/22/2021

News

The Water Research Foundation Seeks Proposals for 20 New Research Projects

Press Release
09/29/2022

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is now accepting proposals for 20 research projects, funded through WRF’s Research Priority Program, that will advance the science of water for communities around the...

EPA Resources to Foster Utility Resilience

Newsletter
07/25/2022

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Creating Resilient Water Utilities Initiative (CRWU) provides tools, training, and technical assistance for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities to address climate change and...

WRF Research Presented at 25th International Ozone Association World Congress

eLetter
10/12/2021

The 25th International Ozone Association (IOA) World Congress, held August 30 – September 2, featured presenters from 13 countries discussing how ozone can be used to mitigate global challenges related...

View all Climate Change News

Resources

Public Plus

An Integrated Modeling and Decision Framework to Evaluate Adaptation Strategies for Sustainable Drinking Water Utility Management Under Drought and Climate Change

Report
#4636
10/17/2019
10/17/2019
Public Plus

An Integrated Modeling and Decision Framework to Evaluate Adaptation Strategies for Sustainable Drinking Water Utility Management Under Drought and Climate Change

Executive Summary
10/17/2019
10/17/2019
Subscriber

Journal AWWA: Preparing for Wildfires and Extreme Weather: Plant Design and Operation Recommendations

Project Paper
08/01/2018
08/01/2018
View all Climate Change Resources

Related Topics

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Emergency Response & Preparedness

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Resilience

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Water Supply Planning

Link

Wildfires

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Water Demand & Forecasting

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Utility Management

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Integrated Planning & Water Management

Link

Green Infrastructure

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      04/04/2023
      Register for Webcast
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