The Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA) has released a new publication, Purpose-Driven Climate Data Selection and Application: Case Studies for Water Managers, Planners, and Modelers. This report features four case studies illustrating how WUCA member utilities – Austin Water, Philadelphia Water Department, Portland Water Bureau, and San Diego County Water Authority – selected, processed, and applied climate model data to inform planning and decision-making. Three projects centered on future water supply and/or demand, while the fourth focused on infrastructure flood risk.
Each case study follows the utility through key steps in this process, from selecting and preparing climate data, to developing workflows, conducting analyses, and applying results to real-world decisions. Rather than prescribing a single approach, these case studies highlight the specific real-world factors that shape utility decisions, including what climate data to use, how to use it, and for what analyses.
Across the four case studies, key insights emerged:
- Practical considerations, such as dataset availability, model input requirements, and previous experience with climate data, often outweigh the technical aspects of climate datasets.
- System-specific impact models are essential to making climate data actionable.
- Repeated engagement with climate data helps build utilities’ internal expertise and capacity over time.
To explore these case studies and their key findings, visit the full report on WUCA’s website: Climate Data Application Case Studies | WUCA