Climate Change Impacts in Coastal Regions

Rising sea levels

• Increased saline intrusion into groundwater aquifers

Water treatment challenges: increased bromide; need for desalination

• Increased salinity of brackish surface water sources

Water treatment challenges: increased bromide; need for desalination

• Increased risk of direct storm and flood damage to water utility facilities

Warmer overall

• Changes in discharge characteristics of major rivers due to upstream changes
• Changes in recharge characteristics of major groundwater aquifers due to upstream changes
• Increased water temperature

• Increased evaporation and eutrophication in surface sources
• Water treatment and distribution challenges (e.g. disinfection, byproducts, regrowth)

• Possible increased water demand

• Increased irrigation demand
• Increased urban demand with more heat waves and dry spells
• Increased drawdown of local groundwaters to meet the above consumption

More intense rainfall events

• Increased turbidity and sedimentation

• Loss of reservoir storage

• Shallower, warmer water; increased evaporation and eutrophication
• Potential conflicts with flood control objectives

• Water filtration or filtration/avoidance treatment challenges

• Increased risk of direct flood damage to water utility facilities

From: Implications of Climate Change for Urban Water Utilities." Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. Washington D.C: Stratus Consulting Inc., 2007.