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Climate-resilient water utilities are an essential part of strong communities. WUCA strives to advance water utility climate adaptation so that communities can thrive in a changing world Collaboratively advancing water utility climate change adaptation Mission Climate-resilient water utilities supporting thriving communities Vision Contact Us Latest reports from WUCA Help your utility prepare for climate change Warming is here and now. Climate adaptation planning is not just about the future. Water utilities are experiencing the effects of a changing climate on their water resources today. Know your system and explore its vulnerabilities. Assess your water system to identify vulnerabilities. Risks can only be reduced if they are identified. Plan for multiple futures. Predicting the future is not feasible but anticipating plausible warmer future climates is. Prepare to face a variety of scenarios. Capacity building and assessment are part of the adaptation equation. Developing the technical and managerial expertise to identify and assess climate risks to a system is as much a part of adaptation as the steps taken to implement risk reduction measures. Sign up for email updates We'll keep you in the loop about upcoming webinars, case studies, and opportunities to participate Name Organization Email Sign Me Up Thanks for submitting! We'll be in touch.

WUCA Resource Library Search Search the website instead Please report broken links via our contact form WUCA Annual Reports Water Utility Climate Alliance Annual Report 2025 Water Utility Climate Alliance Annual Report 2024 Water Utility Climate Alliance Annual Report 2023 Water Utility Climate Alliance Annual Report 2022 Water Utility Climate Alliance Annual Report 2020 Water Utility Climate Alliance Annual Report 2019 Water Utility Climate Alliance Annual Report 2018 Water Utility Climate Alliance Annual Report 2017 WUCA Strategic Plans Water Utility Climate Alliance Strategic Plan 2022-2026 Water Utility Climate Alliance Strategic Plan 2017-2021 Water Utility Climate Alliance Strategic Plan 2012-2016 WUCA Guidance Documents Climate Resilient Engineering Design Guidance for the Water Sector, 2026 A Beginner's Guide to Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty for Water Utilities, 2026 How Do North American Water Agencies Define Water Supply Level of Service, 2025 CMIP6 Frequently Asked Questions: A resource for water managers, 2024 Improving the Vegetation Representation in Hydrologic Models Alters Hydroclimate Projections, A Summary of Impacts in Several Western U.S Basins, 2024 A Summary of Impacts in Several Western U.S Basins Beyond Barriers to Implementation, A Water Sector Perspective on Sea Level Rise Adaptation, 2022 Scaling and Application of Climate Projections to Stormwater and Wastewater Resilience Planning, 2022 An Enhanced Climate-Related Risks and Opportunities Framework and Guidebook for Water Utilities Preparing for a Changing Climate, Project 5056, 2021 Mapping Climate Exposure and Climate Information Needs to Water Utility Business Functions (project 4729), Executive Summary, 2020 Mapping Climate Exposure and Climate Information Needs to Water Utility Business Functions (project 4729), Research Report, 2020 Water Utility Business Risk and Opportunity Framework A Guidebook for Water Utility Business Function Leaders in a Changing Climate, Project 4729, 2020 Insurance, Bond Ratings and Climate Risk - A Primer for Water Utilities (2019) Co-Producing Actionable Science for Water Utilities, 2016 Research Documents Planning for Sea Level Rise: An AGU Talk in the Form of a Co-Production Experiment Exploring Recent Science,2017 Presentations Presentation materials from all WUCA Resilience Trainings, 2018- present Water system resilience in an uncertain climate future, Presentation at AWWA Sustainable Water Management Conference, Portland, Oregon, 2018 Climate Change Resiliency Planning For Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater, Presentation at AWWA Sustainable Water Management Conference, Portland, Oregon, 2018 Successful Coproduction and Collaboration, Presentation at AWWA Sustainable Water Management Conference, Denver, Colorado, 2018 WUCA Leading Practices Water Utility Climate Alliance Leading Practices Report 2021 Water Utility Climate Alliance Leading Practices Worksheet 2021 Water Utility Climate Alliance Leading Practices Overview 2021 Heat Impacts Case Studies Heat Impacts Case Study, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Nevada Heat Impacts Case Study, Portland Water Bureau, Oregon Heat Impacts Case Study, Oklahoma City Utilities Department, Oklahoma Heat Impacts Case Study, Miami, Florida Heat Impacts Case Study, Denver Water Equitable Climate Solutions Case Studies Equitable Climate Solutions Case Study, Leveraging Data for Equitable Climate Outcomes Equitable Climate Solutions Case Study, Equity and Affordability in Water Conservation Equitable Climate Solutions Case Study, Equitable Community Engagement for Climate Action Climate Risk Disclosure for Equitable Climate Action, 2025 Climate Investments that Support Underserved Communities, 2025 Engineering Case Studies Engineering Case Study, Tarrant Regional Water District, Pump Station Cooling Solutions, Extreme Heat Adaptation, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Engineering Case Study, Seattle Public Utilities & King County, Ship Canal Water Quality Project, Seattle, Washington Engineering Case Study, Southern Nevada Water Authority, Low Lake Level Pumping Station, Drought Adaptation, Las Vegas, Nevada Engineering Case Study, City and County of San Francisco, Sea Level Rise Capital Planning and Guidance, California Engineering Case Study, Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department, Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades for Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge, Florida Engineering Case Study, Copenhagen Cloudburst Management Plan for Extreme Rainfall, Denmark Engineering Case Study, Colorado Dept of Natural Resources Dam Safety Design for Extreme Rainfall, Colorado Engineering Case Study, New York City Dept of Environmental Protection Climate Resilience Standard Operating Procedure for Sea Level Rise and Extreme Weather Events, New York Greenhouse Gas Case Studies Greenhouse Gas Case Study: The Water Energy Nexus (WEN) protocol, California Department of Water Resources, California Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Sustainable Water Treatment Plant, Denver Water, Colorado Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Pumping efficiencies, MWRA, Massachusetts Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Biogas to Local Natural Gas, NYC DEP, New York Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Inline Micro-Hydro, Portland Water Bureau, Oregon Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Energy Recovery System for the Carlsbad Seawater Desalination Plant, Poseidon Water, California Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Pumping Optimization, City of Lakewood, California Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Solar Panels, San Diego County Water Authority, California Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Wind power, solar, and battery storage, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, California Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Carbon Free Water, Sonoma Water, California Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Floating Solar, Lake County Special District, California Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Reducing Fleet Emissions, East Bay Municipal Utility District, California Greenhouse Gas Case Study: Smart Building Cooling, Waternet Amsterdam, Netherlands Purpose-Driven Climate Data Selection and Application Case Studies Climate Data Application Case Studies, Austin Water, 2026 Climate Data Application Case Studies, Philadelphia Water Department, 2026 Climate Data Application Case Studies, Portland Water Bureau, 2026 Climate Data Application Case Studies, San Diego County Water Authority, 2026 Climate Data Application Case Studies: Full package featuring four case studies, 2026 Purpose Drive Climate Data Selection and Application LFEO Webinar, August 2026 Purpose Drive Climate Data Selection and Application LFEO Webinar Slides, August 2026

Learn how water utilities use CMIP climate modeling data in real-world case studies to support decision making, climate adaptation, and resilience planning. Purpose-Driven Climate Data Selection and Application Case Studies As water utilities expand climate considerations across business functions and climate hazards— amid a rapidly growing landscape of climate model datasets—selecting data that are truly “fit for purpose” has become increasingly complex. To address this, the Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA) Climate Modeling Work Group sought to develop several case studies that would illuminate the factors behind the selection, processing, and application of climate model datasets in planning analyses. Individual case studies can be found in the links below, and the full report can be accessed here. Webinar recording and slides can be found here and here respectively. Austin Water Climate Planning Context: water supply Philadelphia Water Department Climate Planning Context: river flood levels Portland Water Bureau Climate Planning Context: water supply, water demand San Diego County Water Authority Climate Planning Context: water demand Click on any of the links above to open the case study The purpose of the case studies was not to identify general “best practices” or create formal guidance, which has been done elsewhere (here , here , and here ). Rather, it was to capture the specific circumstances and priorities that drove each utility’s decisions—what climate data to use, in what ways, and for what analyses—providing practical, real-world examples for other utilities to learn from. The case studies were informed by interviews with key utility staff and consultants as well as supporting project documents. Each of the four case studies follows a WUCA member utility through selecting and processing climate model data, establishing a data workflow, conducting project analyses, and applying the results to planning and decision-making. Three of the projects centered on future water supply and/or demand, and the fourth focused on infrastructure flood risk. Two projects were complete at the time of writing, and the other two were in their final phases. Each case study begins with a brief overview of the utility, followed by sections addressing: • Project context • Project methods, including data selection and processing • Results of the analyses • Use of results in decision support (intended and realized) • Lessons learned Each case study also includes links to additional resources that describe the project, climate data, and workflow—such as utility reports and peer-reviewed studies—and a utility contact for further questions. In all four projects, the workflows began with an ensemble of runs from 15 to 35 CMIP5 or CMIP6 climate models. From there, they followed quite different paths in processing those model runs to construct discrete climate and hydrology scenarios for the subsequent impact modeling (Table below), illustrating that there is no one “right” approach to using climate models to effectively inform planning. Unsurprisingly, the results from all four projects showed the potential for greater climate-related stresses and risks to the utility in the decades ahead—more severe droughts, larger flood events, reduced water supply, and/or increased water demand. Key attributes of the four case studies UTILITY AUSTIN WATER PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT PORTLAND WATER BUREAU SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY Planning/ decisions to be informed Integrated Water Resources Plan; implementation of conservation, reuse, and supply strategies Planning and design of vulnerable infrastructure assets Prioritizing water supply system projects in the Capital Improvement Plan System optimization and capital improvement projects to meet future needs What was modeled under climate change in the project analyses Water supply River flood levels Water supply, water demand Water demand Time horizon(s) 2030, 2040... 2080, 2120 2020, 2030...2090 2050 2050 Climate model dataset used CMIP6, screened, custom bias-corrected and downscaled CMIP5-LOCA (32 models) CMIP6-LOCA2 (23 models) CMIP6-LOCA2 Hybrid (15 models) Emissions scenarios used SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, RCP8.5 SSP3-7.0 SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, SSP5-8.5 No. model runs/scenarios used in system impact modeling 15, plus 48 add'l drought scenarios based on those runs 1 - ensemble mean 23 (supply); 3 (demand) 5 System impact models used Statistical streamflow models; basin water availability model Model to interpolate peak flows, elevations, and return intervals from FEMA data System hydrologic model; water demand model; reservoir drawdown model Water demand model ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS Practical considerations carry more weight than climate dataset attributes The case studies show that utilities’ choices in the selection, processing, and application of climate data are conditioned by many factors—including previous experiences with climate datasets and analyses, technical capacity (in-house and consultants), risk tolerance, input requirements for system impact modeling, and whether a dataset is already “at hand.” While the inherent attributes of the climate model datasets (e.g., downscaling method, resolution, number of models) remain relevant, they generally played a secondary role compared to the practical considerations mentioned above. System-specific impact models are key to making climate data usable While it is natural to focus on the CMIP climate model datasets at the head of each “chain of models” deployed by the four utilities, the most important link in that chain may be the last one: a system-specific impact model that translates the climate and hydrology scenarios into corresponding system outcomes, couched in the terms familiar to internal and external audiences (e.g., reservoir drawdown dates, peak flood elevations, water supply yield). These models widely varied in their complexity, from a single-spreadsheet regression model to a water availability model involving several programs and hundreds of model nodes. Regardless of complexity, impact models need to balance simulation accuracy with ease of use and interpretability of output. (See WUCA Leading Practice : Develop tools that allow information customization [archived here ] for related information and examples.) Repeated engagements with climate data can build utilities’ internal capacity All four utilities had previously used similar climate model data to inform their planning, and in three cases, the project workflow was adapted or refined from a previous effort, rather than developed from scratch. (In the fourth case, a similar workflow had been applied in other river basins.) Utility staff reported gaining technical capacity and confidence over time as they became more familiar with climate data and the other links in the chain of models, generally taking on more of the workflow in subsequent analyses. WUCA meetings, training, and resources were cited as important in supporting this progress. Still, every case study project involved at least some level of external expertise—consultants and/or university researchers— to aid in the selection and application of climate model data, though the degree of reliance on these resources varied. (See WUCA Leading Practice: Build and maintain in-house capacity [archived here ] for related information and examples.)

Engineering Case Studies WUCA has developed a suite of engineering case studies that showcase how the water sector is applying climate adaptation in practice, by using climate change information in engineering design and project delivery processes. These case studies were motivated by requests from engineers across WUCA utilities who requested concrete examples of how other water sector professionals are integrating climate change information into on-the-ground projects. Spanning from Seattle, Washington to Miami, Florida and Copenhagen, Denmark, the case studies demonstrate how engineers and water managers are applying climate change data and information to redesign facilities and assets, increase levels of climate resilience, and reduce risks to infrastructure. While climate adaptation best practices continue to mature, these examples offer practical approaches for designing engineering projects for a changing climate. Case studies were developed in partnership with the utilities and operators profiled, and project contacts are provided in each case study to facilitate follow-up and enable interested readers to learn more about implementing similar measures or approaches. Ship Canal Water Quality Project Location: Seattle, Washington Utility: Seattle Public Utilities Climate impacts: Extreme Rainfall Colorado Dam Safety Program Dam Design Location: State of Colorado Utility: Colorado Department of Natural Resources Climate impacts: Extreme Rainfall Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades Location: Miami, Florida Utility: Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Climate impacts: Sea Level Rise Sea Level Rise Capital Planning Guidance Location: San Francisco, California Utility: City and County of San Francisco Climate impacts: Sea Level Rise Climate Resiliency Standard Operating Procedure Location: New York City, New York Utility: New York Department of Environmental Protection Climate impacts: Sea Level Rise and Extreme Events Drinking Water Cooling System Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Utility: Tarrant Regional Water District Climate impacts: Extreme Heat Low Lake Level Pumping Station Location: Southern Nevada Utility: Southern Nevada Water Authority Climate impacts: Drought Cloudburst Management Plan Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Utility: The City of Copenhagen Climate impacts: Extreme Rainfall Case studies were developed with Dr. Heidi Roop, University of Minnesota, and the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group

Understand Understanding is continuous and foundational to climate adaptation work. Knowing more about climate change science, how your system functions along with its underlying conditions and key vulnerabilities, provides valuable context to assess future risks and opportunities for adaptation actions. Leading practices in the UNDERSTAND action area illustrate ways to facilitate better understanding. In the UNDERSTAND action area, leading practices include: Invest in understanding climate science Explore how extremes might change in the future Value simple vulnerability assessments Foster sustained relationships with the climate science community Know your water system Think broadly about climate impacts Be a savvy consumer: recognize values and limits of climate science in practice Know your past climate conditions Recognize the value of long-term monitoring UNDERSTAND Invest in understanding climate science Many things can motivate investment in climate adaptation, including climate champions, natural disasters or crises, peer and public pressure, personnel changes, personal observations of change, and access to new knowledge. Leverage the motivational opportunities that fit your circumstances. Example: Learning about climate change science Climate change science underlies our understanding of the impact climate change will have on our water systems. Knowing what the science says about local and regional temperature increases, precipitation changes, snowpack declines, and changes in streamflow timing can help you better navigate available climate information and how it might be useful in decision making. WUCA has supported a series of regional two-day workshops. A key element of the trainings is to help attendees become more savvy consumers by enhancing their understanding of the capabilities and limitations of climate science and learning best practices for using it in long-term water, wastewater, and stormwater utility planning. Example: Learning about climate change science As part of its 2015 Urban Water Management Plan update, the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) develop downscaled climate change scenarios for its service area. SDCWA adopted a qualitative evaluation approach that uses a manageable number of climate change scenarios to develop a range of potential water demands. The development of demand forecasts based on alternative climate scenarios began by selecting Bias-Corrected Constructed Analog scenarios reflecting central tendencies and extremes of climate projections. First, the temperature and precipitation dimensions were evaluated separately, ranking projected annual changes from smallest to largest and identifying the 95th, and 5th and 50th percentile values for each variable. Next, each "ideal" scenario was defined by a pairing– for instance, the warm/dry scenario might contain the 95th percentile value for temperature and the 5th percentile value for precipitation. The final step of the scenario selection process involved the identification of individual model projections that have temperature and precipitation projections closest in value to the "ideal" scenario description (for example, the model projection that has a pairing of temperature and precipitation that is nearest the "ideal" 95th percentile temperature change and 5th percentile precipitation change). Model projections closest to "ideal" conditions were chosen as the representative climate change scenarios. Five scenarios were selected in this manner and used to prepare an ensemble of climate-change influenced demand projections for inclusion in SDCWA's Urban Water Management Plan. SDCWA has also worked with the US Bureau of Reclamation to assess climate change impacts on surface water runoff for the San Diego region. In 2015, SDCWA partnered with the City of San Diego and the Bureau of Reclamation on the San Diego Basin Study(Opens another site in new window) (Basin Study). The purpose of the Basin Study was to determine potential climate change impacts on water supplies and demands within the San Diego region, and to analyze structural and non-structural concepts that can assist the region in adapting. The Basin Study investigated potential changes to existing operating policies for regional water supply facilities (i.e., dams, reservoirs, conveyance facilities, and water treatment and water recycling plants), modifications to existing facilities, development of new facilities that could optimize reservoir systems, and additional new water supply options including desalination and indirect potable reuse options. The study performed a trade-off analysis that served as a valuable tool to compare the ability of Concepts (adaptation strategies) to achieve Evaluation Objectives (criteria developed through stakeholder input to characterize desired outcomes). The analysis provided a relative ranking of Concepts determined by the specific set of Evaluation Objectives included, the data used to calculate performance measures, and the weights determined from a survey, and are intended to be used to screen promising Concepts rather than prioritize recommended approaches. Example: Impacts to New York City's water supply The Climate Change Integrated Modeling Project (CCIMP) was initiated in 2008 to evaluate the effects of future climate change on the quantity and quality of water in the New York City water supply. The CCIMP has addressed three issues of concern to NYC: overall quantity of water, turbidity, and eutrophication. Models are currently in development to simulate precursors of disinfection byproducts. In the first phase of the project, an initial estimate of climate change impacts was made using available global climate model data sets and NYC Department of Environmental Protection's suite of watershed, reservoir, and system operation models. Initial results from the CCIMP suggest that streamflow would increase during the late fall and winter and decrease in spring due to a shift toward more rain and less snow, as well as earlier melting of the typically smaller snowpack that does develop. The shifting seasonal pattern in streamflow could also result in increased turbidity in the fall and winter, but decreased turbidity in the spring. This information provides a foundation from which the impact of this shifting pattern is being evaluated to determine any changes to operating rules used to optimize water quality for the water supply. UNDERSTAND Foster sustained relationships with the climate science community Climate science continues to advance, providing new data, tools, and knowledge. Long-term relationships with those who study climate science and provide climate services can help you navigate what is new and relevant and help scientists focus on questions that matter to society. The relationship, how it is established and maintained, can vary, thus opportunities exist that span a range of needs and resources. UNDERSTAND Value simple vulnerability assessments Exploring how a simple change in temperature and precipitation impacts water utility resources and functions offers a low-cost, quick, and informative mechanism to better understand system vulnerability. Simple assessments provide knowledge and help utilities gain insights necessary to build adaptive capacity. Example: Vulnerability assessments in the Colorado Front Range In 2008, Denver Water invited five other water utilities, the state of Colorado, the Western Water Assessment, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Research Triangle International, and the Water Research Foundation to coproduce the Joint Front Range Climate Change Vulnerability Study (Front Range Study), to better understand how climate change may impact future water resources in Colorado. Together, the group explored potential future climate-informed hydrology and developed a thorough understanding of climate models, projections, climate assessments, and uncertainty. While the project was completed in 2010, Denver Water continues to convene the climate change group biannually to collaborate on new activities, learn about new science together, and learn from each other (see Example: Regional communities of champions). The figure on the right depicts how annual temperature and precipitation conditions may change over time. What we learned from this scatter plot is that our region will continue to warm as greenhouse gases increase in the atmosphere. The exact amount our watersheds will warm over time is uncertain. Denver Water also learned that precipitation in our region may increase, indicated by all the dots above the red line, or it may decrease, shown by all the dots below the red line. There is not a consistent signal of how precipitation may change in our region. It was these scatter plot findings that most influenced Denver Water's climate assessment philosophy. We learned that modeling precipitation is incredibly complicated, that our region may not see model agreement for precipitation, and that there is significantly more skill and confidence in temperature projections. Based on this, Denver Water shifted focus to warming. This figure illustrates how temperatures and precipitation are projected to change in the 2040s and 2070s using climate projections (BCSD CMIP3). Changes in temperature are plotted along the x-axis and percent changes in precipitation are plotted along the y-axis.SOURCE: Front Range study UNDERSTAND Explore how extremes might change in the future Annual and long-term (e.g., 30-year) averages and trends are common in climate change impact assessments, while extremes like hurricanes and rapid-onset droughts, which are more challenging to simulate and less certain, are under-reported in assessments and reports because extremes are difficult to model. Considering how extremes could change gets people thinking outside of what is “normal” and helps them think through what-if scenarios. UNDERSTAND Know your water system To better understand how your utility will be impacted by climate change, it is important to know your system: Where does your water come from? How does it move throughout the collection system? How is it stored? What are your utility’s key operations? What are its current underlying vulnerabilities? What interdependencies exist with other systems and across sectors (e.g., energy, transportation)? Knowing your system allows for a deep understanding of the factors that influence a system’s vulnerabilities and risks, including but not limited to climate change, and can help direct resources and inquiries more effectively. UNDERSTAND Think broadly about climate impacts Climate change is a risk multiplier that will create new, unexpected challenges. Utilities often focus on water quantity, but many other factors can affect water supply and public safety, including how extreme storms, flooding, sea level rise, extreme heat, extreme drought, low snowpack, fire, smoke, and wind, might impact water quantity, water quality, health and safety, risks to assets and built infrastructure, treatment processes, financial risks, etc. These can also cause other cascading impacts. UNDERSTAND Be a savvy consumer: recognize values and limits of climate science in practice Climate science helps us better understand what we might expect from a warmer world (e.g., changes in temperature, precipitation, snowpack), but there are limits to what models can simulate and intrinsic uncertainties in future projections. Climate change information is created using models and methods that are more appropriate for certain questions than others. Use science to inform the process, but do not wait for nor expect climate change science to provide precise predictions. UNDERSTAND Know your past climate conditions Understanding the past is crucial to better understanding the future. Even though climate is changing (stationarity is no longer an appropriate assumption), information about past climate conditions is essential to understanding the range of natural variability and how your system’s baseline is changing relative to what you have already experienced. UNDERSTAND Recognize the value of long-term monitoring Long-term records can help an organization understand where trends are occurring and whether and when to make climate change-related investments. Becoming familiar with what data have been collected already and what environmental conditions and operational procedures should be monitored is time well spent. A defined baseline, in the context of other information, can help determine: What climate change information is appropriate for the region of interest If changes are occurring What changes are significant enough to pass a threshold that requires action This requires understanding what has (or should) be monitored and then sustaining a monitoring effort, as highlighted in SUSTAIN: Monitor current

Case Studies Case studies of successfully implemented projects are essential for helping utilities advance climate adaptation and mitigation. A good set of case studies can expand a utility's vision of what is possible, provide practical steps for project implementation, and share valuable insights and lessons learned. Follow the links below to explore sets of case studies that WUCA has produced around specific topic areas. Engineering Case Studies Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Case Studies Heat Impacts Case Studies Stormwater and Wastewater Case Studies Equitable Climate Solutions Case Studies Climate Data Application Case Studies Not finding what you're looking for? Search our Resource Library instead You may also be looking for: Sea Level Rise Adaptation Climate Modeling with CMIP6

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Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Case Studies WUCA recognizes the importance of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation as a key climate adaptation strategy and an issue of climate leadership in the water sector. Ultimately, the more GHG emissions are mitigated, the less water utilities will need to adapt. Therefore, a key objective in WUCA's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan is for the alliance to continue developing practical examples and case studies of climate adaptation and climate mitigation. Water utilities have a unique role to play in mitigating GHGs, both due to the high energy usage of the water industry as well as the leading example that the water industry sets for other industries and business communities. These GHG mitigation case studies are examples of progressive GHG mitigation projects at water utilities and include lessons learned during implementation. The selection of case studies is designed to represent a wide swath of project types—it is not an exhaustive list but hopefully a strong starting point for utilities to learn from each other. The focus was on water supply utilities, but many of the projects can be equally applied at wastewater and stormwater utilities. The case studies were developed in partnership with the utilities profiled, and contacts are provided in each case study to facilitate follow-up and enable interested readers to learn more about implementing similar projects Floating Solar Location: Lake County, California Utility: Lake County Special District Inline Micro-Hydro Location: Portland, Oregon Utility: Portland Water Bureau Wind Power, Solar and Battery Storage Location: Southern California Utility: Inland Empire Utilities Agency Carbon Free Water Location: Sonoma, California Utility: Sonoma Water Reducing Fleet Emissions Location: Oakland, California Utility: East Bay Municipal Utility District Pumping Optimization Location: Lakewood, California Utility: City of Lakewood Sustainable Water Treatment Plant Location: Denver, Colorado Utility: Denver Water Smart Building Cooling Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands Utility: Waternet Solar Panels Location: San Diego, California Utility: San Diego County Water Authority Biogas to Local Natural Gas Location: New York, New York Utility: New York City Department of Environmental Protection Energy Recover for Carlsbad Seawater Desalination Plant Location: Carlsbad, CA Utility: Poseidon Water The Water Energy Nexus Protocol Location: Sacramento, California Utility: California Department of Water Resources Pumping Efficiencies Location: Boston, Massachusetts Utility: Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

Engage Well-thought-out communication and engagement plans result in more effective, successful, and supported adaptation. Climate adaptation often requires field building and change management. As such, engaging internal and external stakeholders (two-way communication, listening and sharing) to motivate action, connect with and support others, and develop climate messages can go a long way toward making your adaptation efforts successful. The following leading practices are in the action area of ENGAGE and are described below: Recognize many ways to motivate climate adaptation action Seek out and support climate champions throughout your utility (also in SUSTAIN ) Consult expertise throughout your utility regularly and with purpose Tailor the climate adaptation message for the intended audience Develop a climate communications plan Include equity from the beginning Make the business case for climate adaptation (also in SUSTAIN ) ENGAGE Recognize many ways to motivate climate adaptation action Many things can motivate investment in climate adaptation, including climate champions, natural disasters or crises, peer and public pressure, personnel changes, personal observations of change, and access to new knowledge. Leverage the motivational opportunities that fit your circumstances. Example: Simultaneous natural disasters in Colorado In 2002, Denver Water saw unprecedented simultaneous natural disasters in its watersheds. During the single worst one-year drought ever recorded in Colorado, the largest wildfire the state had ever seen occurred in one of its largest and hardest working watersheds. Just weeks after the fire was contained, a rainstorm brought sedimentation and debris into streams and reservoirs, significantly impacting water quality and reservoir capacity. Now, nearly two decades later, the watershed is still noticeably scarred, and the memory of the 2002 natural disasters is still very present. While climate change did not cause these disasters, science tells us that recent warming contributed to their impacts. Overall, the experience helped Denver Water understand the importance of addressing climate change challenges. Now, dedicated staff actively work to understand and prepare for changes that may dramatically impact Denver Water's system and business model, such as continued warming and extreme heat; intensified droughts, floods, and forest fires; and changes to snowpack, Denver Water's high-elevation supply source. Example: Droughts and floods in Texas Austin, Texas, is prone to frequent droughts often followed by intense rainy periods. The most recent drought (2008-2016) dropped water levels in area reservoirs to near-record lows and ultimately surpassed the severity of the 1950s' drought of record. In some areas, lake levels were so low that it became difficult to launch boats and enjoy other water-based activities. The drought and high temperatures also took a visible toll on landscapes and other vegetation. Then, in 2018, historic flooding brought massive amounts of silt and dirt—over 100 times the typical level—into Austin's drinking water supply. This impacted raw water quality and slowed treatment systems. To ensure adequate flows in case of fires, Austin Water issued the first system-wide boil water notice in its 100-year history. With climate change, the utility expects these types of events to become more frequent and severe. Austin's leadership has long acknowledged and addressed climate impacts in its water planning efforts. The public has benefited, especially in the context of recent events, building momentum for additional actions. Most recently, the Austin City Council adopted Water Forward, an integrated water resource plan, which used a regional water supply context to develop strategies to ensure a sustainable and resilient water future into the next century. This experience can also help the abstract concept of climate change become more concrete. Example: Collective action because of a summit In January 2007, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SF PUC) hosted the first national Water Utility Climate Change Summit, which was attended by more than 200 water and wastewater utility executives, government officials, climate change experts and environmental leaders. The purpose of the gathering was to help participants better understand the impacts of climate change on water-related infrastructure and water resource supplies. During that summit, utility leaders recognized the future risks and value a collective effort would bring to the climate adaptation conversation. As the summit drew to a close, SF PUC General Manager Susan Leal committed to fund an effort from the dais and issued a challenge to attendees. Turning to Metropolitan Water District of Southern California General Manager Jeff Kightlinger, who had served on a panel but was now back in his seat among the audience of 200, she said: "Jeff?" Kightlinger replied, "Sounds good to me!" and turned to his Board Chair, Tim Brick, who was also in the audience, and said "Tim?" Brick gave his thumbs up, Metropolitan matched the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's pledge, and planning for what became WUCA began. (Interesting note: that initial pledge lasted nearly ten years because the bulk of WUCA's work has been driven by utility staff and volunteer experts drawn into the collaboration). Shortly after the summit, WUCA was formed, which has led to over a decade of innovative work in climate adaptation, as highlighted throughout these leading practices. ENGAGE SUSTAIN Seek out and support climate champions throughout your utility Progress happens more quickly with the support of motivated individuals who value and prioritize climate adaptation work, including executive-level leaders. It is therefore important to build relationships with and educate champions who can influence climate adaptation actions, then help sustain and strengthen those efforts. Having champions across an organization (in planning, engineering, finance, public relations, and other roles) can contribute diverse expertise and resources and help provide institutional memory as individuals' roles change. This practice is included under both ENGAGE and SUSTAIN climate adaptation actions. Example: Building a cross-functional team of champions The Central Arizona Project (CAP) climate adaptation plan(Opens another site in new window) was developed with an education and engagement mindset, which elevated existing and promoted future climate champions throughout the organization. Key to the development of the plan was the active participation of a cross-functional team of internal experts comprising all of CAP's climate-sensitive functions, including water policy, operations and engineering, maintenance, public affairs, technology, legal services, finance and administration, and employee services. The team collaboratively identified implications of climate change for CAP's functions as well as all components of the CAP climate adaptation plan. This approach helped foster climate champions in each of CAP's organizational functions by actively educating and engaging them in the climate adaptation process. It also gave members of the CAP team ownership in addressing CAP's climate challenges. Example: Interactive climate education with an organization One important way to build climate champions is through interactive climate education sessions within an organization. For example, Denver Water includes a "Climate 101" unit in all orientation sessions for new employees and provides climate science, adaptation, and mitigation information in its new employee onboarding package. As part of the Climate 101 education sessions, new employees are given prompts to brainstorm how climate change could impact various utility business functions (finance, water treatment, construction, etc.). This approach gets employees thinking creatively about climate change from day one of the job and establishes a baseline level of climate knowledge. After a Climate 101 session, a new employee of Denver Water's youth education team was inspired to integrate climate change into the youth education curriculum and has since created an entire climate change and water module that is presented to schools throughout the region. Building on the successful implementation of these Climate 101 sessions for new employees, the climate team began offering the sessions to other sections at the utility, usually in groups of three to five people to allow for more interactive conversation. This small scale and interactive approach to climate education has allowed the climate team to build climate champions throughout the organization, as well as to build relationships and co-produce climate adaptation ideas with subject matter experts from many business functions. Example: A dedicated person to support champions utility-wide Austin Water has a long history of implementing a variety of climate planning and management measures. While these efforts have traditionally been housed in the Environmental Affairs and Conservation Program Area, climate work has also been done across utility program areas—like Operations, Pipeline Engineering, and Water Resources Management—and, to some extent, in different city departments. In 2019, Austin Water established a new staff position, Climate Protection Consultant, to place additional utility-wide focus on climate issues. This includes taking steps to enhance information sharing about climate change across the utility, continuing to better incorporate climate concerns into cross-functional utility planning efforts, and representing Austin Water on city-wide climate planning initiatives. This position reports to the Assistant Director of Environmental, Planning, and Development Services. This reporting structure provides frequent opportunities for sharing climate-related information with utility leadership. In addition, the Office of Sustainability, a department within the City of Austin, is currently evaluating options for creating a new Chief Climate Resilience Officer position to address city-wide climate resilience planning and strategy implementation. ENGAGE Consult expertise throughout your utility regularly and with purpose Adapting to climate change requires diverse expertise and broad participation, both of which can be gained by consulting others throughout your organization. The type of engagement that works best varies depending on an organization's culture, but a little forethought and some regularity can go a long way (e.g., begin with listening and ask what matters). Example: Business function conversations Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) climate adaptation staff initiated a process of engagement with internal experts by first sharing results from a region-specific climate change projection study. At early meetings, department heads learned about the types of changes expected in the future and weighed in on how these changes might impact utility business functions. From these initial meetings, a few key business function areas were identified to develop adaptation actions. Then, SNWA set up small group meetings and interviewed each business function area to gather how the organization's experts thought they could address potential impacts. Conversations were summarized, and each small group reviewed the recommended actions and helped develop next steps. The process accomplished several goals: It educated staff about climate change It introduced staff to SNWA's climate leadership so they know whom to contact in the organization with questions Because business function experts were the ones to develop the solutions, it ensures buy-in and increases the likelihood that proposed solutions will be implemented See Example: Business function mapping to learn about a framework for considering climate change across an organization’s business functions. Example: Trash removal as an unexpected adaptation need Adaptation planners at the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) recognized that successful adaptation requires expertise on both climate science and operations. It is not possible for PWD's adaptation planners to possess all of the necessary operational knowledge for the numerous systems PWD operates and maintains across the city (drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater). So the PWD Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) prioritized engaging in two-way conversations with utility operators early and often to share information and begin developing meaningful solutions/adaptation strategies. For example, PWD's adaptation planners met with operations staff at one of PWD's wastewater treatment plants. After presenting future projections of precipitation increases, the operators shared that these conditions would likely produce more trash, accumulating at faster rates, during the initial screening stage of the wastewater treatment process. This consequence, which was only identified after consulting with plant operators, has implications for resources—more staff and equipment may be needed to remove and process trash to maintain current levels of service. Example: Utility-wide climate adaptation planning Preparing a Climate Adaptation Plan provides an opportunity to form a cross-functional team with a clear purpose (see ENGAGE: Seek out and support climate champions throughout your utility). Important lessons Have well-organized information for people to react to. However, do not wait for the analysis to be perfect—share what you have along the way. Strike the right balance between reaching out to staff and respecting their time. ENGAGE Tailor the climate adaptation message for the intended audience One key to successful communication is knowing your audience(s) and framing your message so it has meaning and value to them. A climate adaptation message that resonates with one individual or group might not "land" with others. Identifying which messages work best is time well spent. Example: Be clear why climate change matter Over the past 10 years, the Alliance has homed in on messages that resonate with water utilities to demonstrate the impact climate change could have on critical utility operations and functions. Powerful, clear messages that connect climate change to water utility responsibilities include climate change is water change and warming is here and now. Example: Messages that resonate with engineers When the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) Climate Change Adaptation Program (CCAP) was ready to share information and results from analyses internally, success—i.e., whether climate information would eventually be adopted within existing planning, design, and asset management processes—hinged on good communication. For example, when sharing information with engineers who work on long-term infrastructure plans, CCAP first explained how climate change is altering the water cycle and how climate non-stationarity might challenge standard engineering practices, procedures, and tools. Planners and design engineers are used to working with return intervals and other statistical tools and methods that are based on historic data. It was essential to explain that, because of climate change, these traditional tools and methods may no longer be adequate moving forward. It was also important to convey that the CCAP team is available to help PWD staff tackle these challenges. Example: Concrete impacts of warming temperatures Climate change can be an abstract concept for water utility professionals whose daily responsibilities include operating reservoirs, designing and building projects, and managing aging infrastructure. To make climate change concrete, the Portland Water Bureau has identified a spectrum of ways in which climate warming and its impacts affect water utility functions and operations, from engineering and operations groups to finance, communications, and maintenance & construction. For example, climate warming and wildfire smoke directly affect the health and safety of the outdoor workforce. Also, increased risk of flooding and landslides could damage critical bureau assets. Presenting direct impacts to the day-to-day job of construction field crews and asset management engineers has successfully resonated with these staff. To recognize these impacts and the need for adaptation more formally, the Portland Water Bureau has included several climate adaptation strategies in the utility’s updated strategic plan. The utility also gives many internal and external presentations within the water sector, and most of these communications begin by connecting the physics of a warmer atmosphere to the hydrologic cycle. From there it is easier to illustrate how a changing water cycle will affect a given water utility. ENGAGE Develop a climate communications plan Taking time to consider how climate change information and adaptations strategies are communicated both internally and externally can help motivate action and avoid conflict or confusion. ENGAGE Include equity from the beginning Effective solutions to climate change challenges depend on many factors, all of which might not be clear at the onset. Engaging and focusing on the needs of communities, particularly those most vulnerable to disruptions caused by climate impacts, is best done at the beginning and throughout a project. By improving conditions for the most vulnerable in your community, you also improve conditions for everyone. ENGAGE SUSTAIN Make the business case for climate adaptation Improving resiliency takes time and resources but can also save time and resources. Transparency about financial elements, including tradeoffs in costs and other triple-bottom-line benefits — social, environmental, and financial — can motivate action and demonstrate how adaptation investments can save money in the long run. This helps engage people from the beginning and sustain the effort. This practice is included under both ENGAGE and SUSTAIN climate adaptation actions. See examples in the SUSTAIN section.

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June 2024 Resilience Training, Seattle WA Welcome and Agenda Review Decisions for the Decades: Understanding Deep Uncertainty Decision-Making in the Face of Uncertainty: Seattle Public Utilities Case Study Regional Climate Impacts in the Pacific Northwest A Practical Look at Using Climate Science, Locally Portland Water Bureau Case Study Reflections on Day 1 and Review of Day 2 Agenda Stories from EPA’s CRWU: Providing Technical Assistance for Scenario-Based Planning to Water Utilities Adapting to Climate Change Scenario Design: Accelerated Introduction to Scenario Planning Adaptation Decision-Making Lessons Learned: City of Santa Cruz, California Case Study October 2023 Resilience Training (virtual) Welcome and Agenda Review Practical Considerations for Climate Adaptation One Water Management in the Delaware River Basin Climate Modeling and Projections for Water Sector Professionals Addressing Climate Change Impacts at the Basin Scale Key Takeaways, Reflections and Next Day Preview Welcome: Reflections on Day 1, Preview Day 2 Water Utility Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning: Some Guiding Principles Methods for Decision-Making Under Deep Uncertainty Case Study: Adaptation Decision-Making at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Case Study: Dynamic Adaptive Policy Pathways (DAPPs) in South Florida Key Takeaways, Reflections and Next Day Preview July 2022 Resilience Training (virtual) Pre-training webinar Day 1 Day 2 Day3 Decisions for the Decade: A "Serious Game" for Water Planners Practical Considerations for Climate Analysis and Adaptation: Know Before You Go Climate Science for Water Professionals: What Insight Do We Get from the Climate Models? A Practical Look at Downscaling, Bias Correction, and Translating Climate Science into Hydrology in the Colorado River Basin Downscaling Approaches and Hydrologies Developed for the Colorado River Simulation System Decision Making in the Face of Uncertainty: SNWA Case Study Water Utility Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning: Some Guiding Principles Methods for Decision Making Under Conditions of Deep Uncertainty Adaptation Decision Making at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Confronting Common Challenges and Addressing Institutional Barriers to Change December 2019 Resilience Training, Austin TX From Conservation to Climate Change: Planning for an Uncertain Future Practical Considerations for Climate Analysis and Adaptation: Know Before You Go... Climate Science for Water Professionals: What Do We Know About How the South Central's Climate Will Change? Modeling 101 Climate Science for Water Professionals: What Insight Do We Get from Climate Models? A Practical Look at Downscaling, Bias Correction, and Translating Climate Science into Hydrology Integrating Climate Data Into Forecasting Hydrologic Inflow Water Utility Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning: Some Guiding Principles EPA's CREAT: Decision Support Example Houston Strong: Building Resilience to Climate Change Scenario Design: An Accelerated Introduction to Scenario Planning Methods for Decision Making Under Conditions of Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) Adaptation Decision-Making at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Using Communication Best Practices to Engage Audiences & Address Institutional Barrier May 2019 Resilience Training, Tampa Bay, FL Decisions for the Decade: Understanding Deep Uncertainty Decision-Making in the Face of Uncertainty: Tampa Bay Water Practical Considerations for Climate Analysis and Adaptation Climate Science and Modeling for Water Sector Professionals Climate Science and Modeling for Water Sector Professionals: Florida A Practical Look at Downscaling, Bias Correction, and Translating Climate Science into Hydrology Case Study: Evaluation of Future Climate and Water Use Scenarios for Water Supply Planning in the Tampa Bay Region Guiding Principles for Adaptation and Resilience Planning EPA's CREAT: Decision Support Example Case Study: Broward County – Water Resources Resilience Case Study: Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (PRMRWSA) Scenario Design Methods for Decision-Making Under Deep Uncertainty Adaptation Decision-Making at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Using Communication Best Practices to Engage Audiences and Address Institution Barriers December 2018 Resilience Training, Portland, OR Decision-Making in the Face of Uncertainty: The evolution of supply planning and climate adaptation at the Portland Water Bureau Practical Considerations for Climate Analysis and Adaptation: Know before you go... Climate Science for Water Professionals: What Do We Know About How the Climate of the Northwest Will Change? A Practical Look at Downscaling, Bias Correction, and Translating Climate Science into Hydrology Conveyance System Stress Testing Pilot Study Water Utility Climate Adaptation and Resilience Planning: Some Guiding Principles EPA's CREAT: Decision Support Example Seattle Public Utilities Case Study Methods for Decision Making Under Conditions of Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) Robust Decision Making in Metropolitan's IRP Using Communication Best Practices to Engage Audiences & Address Institutional Barriers