Summary: Drought is a significant natural hazard for the water and wastewater sector. To help utilities mitigate the risk of drought, EPA offers several free resources to help owners and operators effectively manage their water supply.
Analyst Note: Drought can result in significant operational impacts to water utilities, including a loss of water supply and poor source water quality. Building drought resilience allows utilities to enhance their ability to respond to water supply threats, withstand impacts from drought, and quickly recover when drought does occur. Utility owners and operators are encouraged to review EPA’s “Drought Response and Recovery for Water Utilities” webpage that highlights free resources and guidance.
One of the most important free resources on the site is the “Drought Response and Recovery Guide.” This interactive, user-friendly guide provides worksheets, best practices, videos and key resources for responding to drought emergencies and building long-term resilience. The guide relays lessons learned from nine small- to medium-sized utilities nationwide that have responded to extreme drought conditions. With the potential for drought, owners and operators are encouraged to re-assess their organization’s current drought procedures.
Original Source: https://www.epa.gov/waterutilityresponse/drought-response-and-recovery-water-utilities
Additional Reading:
- Improved Forecasting Could Help Guide Reservoir Management Decisions for Floods and Droughts
- Climate Change Intensifying World’s Water Cycle, Leading to More Intense Drought and Flooding
Mitigation Recommendations:
Related WaterISAC PIRs: 16 & 17
