The impact of climate change on water infrastructure

Climate change is greatly affecting weather patterns and the world's ecosystem and posing significant challenges to the world's water supply. Water sources are affected by climate change in three general ways, changes in annual rainfall, increases in sea levels, and increased runoff, which results in decreased raw water quality. Utilities can adapt and plan for the effects of long term climate variability and can work to mitigate current contributing factors when possible. Through proper planning, identifying critical assets, assessing and prioritizing risks, and by providing a variety of solutions, utilities attempt to reduce the probability and impact that extreme weather events will have on their ability to maintain service to their customers. An important step in addressing the challenges of climate change is identifying ways to limit greenhouse gas emissions and educate people about these measures.