A recent report, published by the Pacific Institute in collaboration with DigDeep and the UNESCO Water Security and Cooperation Center, identifies key strategies to help historically underserved communities build more resilient water systems in the face of climate change.
Its recommendations include the use of innovative technologies, nature-based solutions, and approaches tailored to the specific needs of each community.
Innovations and Challenges
The report highlights technologies such as rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse systems, which can reduce water demand and increase drought resilience. However, implementing these solutions can be costly for low-income communities.
It also proposes the use of natural or engineered wetlands to mitigate droughts, control floods, reduce contaminants, and protect water supplies.
In places like the Everglades in Florida, these wetlands have proven effective in cleaning and protecting vital sources of drinking water. The report also advocates for government water assistance programs to help the most vulnerable households cover water and sanitation costs.
Impacts of Climate Change on Water Access
Climate change has intensified extreme events that have disrupted water access. In North Carolina, Hurricane Helene left over 100,000 people without safe water access for almost two months. Los Angeles is another case, where wildfires contaminated the drinking water supply in 2024, forcing residents to seek alternatives.
In communities like the Navajo Nation, where 30% of the population lacks running water, the effects of climate change worsen preexisting inequalities, leaving residents with significant financial burdens to repair aging systems.
Political Barriers and Current Context
The report points out that recent government policies have made it difficult to fund critical water infrastructure projects. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, resources for water projects have been cut, diversity and environmental justice policies have been reversed, and measures aimed at protecting vulnerable communities have been paused.
Greg Pierce, from the University of California, Los Angeles, highlighted in a report by the AP agency that the report comes at a time of uncertainty, where no federal action is expected in the short term. Despite this, the authors are confident that local communities will find innovative solutions to address these challenges.
A Call to Action
Through compiling academic research, expert interviews, and case studies, the report provides a framework for building water systems that can withstand the impacts of climate change.
Shannon McNeeley, the lead author of the report, hopes that it inspires hope, demonstrating that, despite financial and political barriers, it is possible to build a more resilient and equitable future in terms of water access.
Cover photo: WaterAid/Basile Ouedraogo
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