The next several decades will feature hotter, drier weather in some regions and heavier precipitation events in others – and the consequences of these changing hydrologic conditions will pose new challenges for the nation’s water resource managers. That was the message Pacific Institute co-founder and president Dr. Peter Gleick delivered during a briefing for Capitol Hill staff earlier this month.
Dr. Gleick’s presentation, which is available online, explained how the rising occurrence of “500 year” storm events and higher temperatures that reduce snowfall and lead to earlier seasonal runoff are likely symptoms of global climate change. As a result, he told congressional staff, water resource managers must begin planning very soon to address consequential impacts on water quality and quantity, as they too are expected to depart from historical norms.
“The longer we wait, the more difficult the choices we’ll have to make” about how to adapt, Gleick explained. He also noted that both traditional infrastructure, as well as “green” infrastructure approaches, will play an important role in how water utilities cope with changing hydrologic conditions.
Dr. Gleick’s presentation on Capitol Hill was timely, as AMWA and other water and environmental groups are working with several members of Congress to introduce the “Water System Resiliency and Sustainability Act.” This legislation will authorize a grant program through which the nation’s water and wastewater utilities will compete for funding to support projects necessary to help water systems adapt to changing hydrologic conditions. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) is planning to introduce the bill in the House of Representatives, and Sens. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) are working on the Senate version. A draft of the bill is currently being reviewed by Senate committee staff and may be formally introduced in the coming weeks.
AMWA will notify its members when the bill’s introduction is imminent, so that utilities can contact their members of Congress and ask that they support the legislation.