Current Investment Could Provide Future Water Security

The concurrent challenges of Covid-19, climate change and aging infrastructure have placed increasing burden on an already struggling water industry. Utilities have undergone a period of adaptation to meet these challenges, and the threats have also prompted the industry to embrace sustainability, innovation and technology, explains a recent article by Water Power & Dam Construction.

The article, which draws on the expertise of Cindy Wallis-Lage, executive director of sustainability and resilience at Black & Veatch, to discuss how the water industry is accepting difficult truths about its contributions to climate change, and the necessity of upgrading infrastructure and technology across utility assets to develop sustainability.

Referencing Black & Veatch’s 2021 Water Report, Water Power & Dam Construction explain the growing pressure placed on communities and utilities by increasing extreme weather events. By beginning to harden infrastructure, make upgrades, and plan for resilience now, water utilities can safeguard their systems and assets against future climate events, thus improving water security.

“As impacts of climate change manifest themselves elsewhere in the form of expansive, seemingly more common droughts, flooding, hurricanes and wildfires, questions arise,” explains Black & Veatch’s report. “Are utilities and communities doing enough to harden their water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructures and assets against such threats? Or are they at least starting to plan for such upgrades in the interest of dependable water security and supply? The short answer is that there’s much more the industry needs to be doing to become resilient.”

While utilities work to harden their assets and increase resiliency, they should begin by having honest, thoughtful discussions about the impact the environment will have on the water industry, and vice versa.