Equitable Climate Solutions Case Studies More intense storms, rising sea levels, and more frequent droughts can strain water supplies, damage infrastructure, threaten public health, and challenge the delivery of clean water, sanitation, and stormwater management. While climate and water resource challenges affect many communities, those already overburdened with economic, environmental, and health challenges are especially vulnerable. Those most affected often include Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color, lower-income people, children, and the elderly, among others. Imbuing the climate action work of water utilities with an ethos of water equity can accelerate progress toward a resilient future for all. According to the US Water Alliance, water equity occurs when all communities have access to safe, clean, and affordable drinking water and wastewater services; are resilient in the face of floods, drought, and other climate risks; have a role in decision-making processes for water management in their communities; and share in the economic, social, and environmental benefits of water systems. The water sector is at the forefront of the climate crisis, and water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities have a critical role as anchor community institutions to center equity and climate resilience in all aspects of their water management. In recognition of the responsibility to help their communities thrive, utilities should recognize the links between water challenges, opportunities to advance equity, and the need for urgent yet thoughtful adaptation, resilience, and mitigation investments. To advance the work of the water sector on this topic and in support of WUCA's Strategic Plan, WUCA partnered with the US Water Alliance to develop a series of case studies that highlight leading practices for equitable climate action within the water sector and provide examples of how utilities are working with communities to address climate impacts and climate planning in equitable ways. The topics for each case study were co-developed by the WUCA Equity Committee and the US Water Alliance based on existing work and topics of interest from WUCA members. The selected topics span a wide range of key actions to achieve equity in climate resilience—some practices that are relatively well-known and understood, and others that are new avenues for action.Each case study provides key background information, select utility profiles, and a list of additional resources to support implementation. Utility profiles include detailed narratives of how leading utilities center equity in their climate adaptation efforts. The narratives were co-developed with each utility and feature key insights identified by the utility. Contact information is provided for each narrative to facilitate follow-up and enable interested readers to learn more about implementing similar projects. Leveraging Data for Equitable Climate Outcomes Community-informed data is an essential tool to promote accountability, social resilience, and equitable climate action in the water sector. Profiles of utility best practices include insights from Portland Water Bureau and Philadelphia Water Department. Equitable Community Engagement for Climate Action Equitable community engagement in the pursuit of empowered and authentic utility-community relationships underpins all equitable climate action work. Profiles of utility best practices include insights from Raleigh Stormwater, Seattle Public Utilities, and Austin Water Equity and Affordability in Water Conservation Affordability-focused household water conservation programs have the potential to promote community-wide water accessibility while supporting utility fiscal health and the long-term durability of water sources. Profiles of utility best practices include insights from Houston Public Works, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and San Diego County Water Authority. Climate Risk Disclosure for Equitable Climate Action Climate related challenges, including extreme weather, flooding, droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves, can undermine utilities' financial health, operational stability, and capacity to serve all in their communities equitably. These challenges necessitate efforts to assess, manage, and effectively communicate climate risks. Climate Investments that Support Underserved Communities Case studies highlight utilities that implement data-driven, community-informed strategies to bridge historical investment gaps and support those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

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

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