(TLP:CLEAR) New Reports Help Utilities Prepare for Climate Hazards and other Future Uncertainties

Summary: The Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA) recently published two reports: “A Beginner’s Guide to Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty for Water Utilities” and “Purpose-Driven Climate Data Selection and Application Case Studies.” The first report focuses on how to approach future uncertainties – including from the climate, socioeconomic conditions, and financial factors – while the second focuses on climate hazards and how utilities have utilized climate model data in their planning.

More specifically, “A Beginner’s Guide to Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty for Water Utilities” provides an accessible introduction to Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) by 1) highlighting the types of insights DMDU can offer and 2) outlining the core components of a DMDU approach. “Purpose-Driven Climate Data Selection and Application Case Studies” includes examples from Austin Water, the Philadelphia Water Department, the Portland Water Bureau, and the San Diego County Water Authority. Each case study details the factors behind the selection, processing, and application of climate model datasets in planning analyses.

Analyst Note: As the reports make clear, especially the first, future uncertainties arise not just from climate hazards and the likelihood they will continue to become more frequent and severe but also from changes in society and economy and finances (think the effects of AI, shifting workforces, tight supply chains, and inflation, to name just a few), which are also largely outside of their control. Still, utilities that plan for inevitable changes will fare much better than those that do not. Additionally, real-world, successful examples from other utilities – highlighted in the second publication – are among the most effective references to use when trying to convince senior leaders of the kinds of investments they should make.

Additional Reading:

• WUCA: “A Beginner’s Guide to Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty for Water Utilities”
• WUCA: “Purpose-Driven Climate Data Selection and Application Case Studies”

Related WaterISAC PIRs: 16, 17, & 18