California rang in the new year by announcing that it was 100% drought free for the first time in 25 years. While that’s good news, it’s risky to assume the trend will last.
The last few months of winter were unusually warm, leaving statewide snowpack at nearly half of its historical average. While some places experienced unprecedented rainfall, many are seeing record high temperatures. Swings from deluge to drought are nothing new in California, climate change is rewriting the rules in ways that could represent a real constraint on growth and development. What we do now will dictate the future of our communities and economy.
Erratic precipitation
In California, extreme droughts are projected to increase up to 150% by 2100, placing enormous pressure on the wet season to deliver enough water to sustain us throughout the year. But what happens when winter drought-busters fail to materialize, and summers start earlier and run hotter for longer?
The stakes get higher as the snowpack is expected to shrink by more than half by 2100, being replaced by rainfall. The Sierra Nevadas alone supply almost one third of our state’s water needs but reservoirs are designed to capture gradual snowmelt throughout the summer months. Intense precipitation events such as atmospheric reservoirs overwhelm available reservoir capacities. Paradoxically, too much rain at once can risk leaving us with too little water.
We need to adapt our approach to water, since assumptions that guided California water management for generations no longer hold. This means planning for volatility in supply timing and volume, as well as growing demand from communities, agriculture and industry. How?
We can rapidly scale up efforts to:
Ensure we get the most from existing supplies by expanding leak detection and pipeline maintenance, since every drop counts
Reduce discretionary demand by promoting smart irrigation and drought-resistant landscaping
Use tools like forecast-informed reservoir operations (FIRO) to expand water storage capacity of existing reservoirs and increase managed aquifer recharge projects
Diversify our water supplies, which can involve forward-looking investments in waste water reuse/recycling and stormwater capture to stretch every gallon
Consider options for tiered pricing and conservation incentives to encourage efficiency
Strengthen emergency response plans for both floods and dry spells
These are no longer nice-to-have measures; they’re essential for resilience. And this isn’t the only water-related challenge we need to solve.
Rising sea levels and groundwater
Groundwater supplies an even larger share of California’s water than snowpack does, meeting an estimated 40% to 60% of the state’s annual demand. Like many coastal states, California faces rising seas – as much as three feet this century. That brings coastal flooding and can push seawater inland and raise groundwater levels, driving salty water and industrial contaminants into freshwater supplies.
It’s concerning, but there are steps utilities can take to mitigate the impact. They should:
Map vulnerable assets such as pumping stations and treatment plants to prioritize upgrades that will deliver the greatest return
Elevate or harden critical facilities above projected flood levels
Utilize groundwater modeling to identify vulnerable waste systems (e.g., landfills) and proactively make modifications to prevent contact with rising groundwater levels
Upgrade stormwater systems to handle surge and prevent backflow, planning for saltwater intrusion
Adapting to climate change has real financial implications. Utilities need to allocate funds for flexible planning and infrastructure upgrades. Grants, partnerships, and regional cooperation could help distribute expenses, while effective coordination with all levels of government can help align priorities and get the most from proposed investments. Delaying action will only drive up costs and complicate execution, leading to service disruptions and public safety risks.
It’s easy to overlook the dangers when our reservoirs are full. But we need to prepare for the day when they aren’t. Climate impacts don’t always arrive gradually. Some hit hard and fast, like torrential flooding or catastrophic mudslides triggered by heavy storms drenching drought-baked hills. By proactively integrating resilience into infrastructure decisions, California can help mitigate – but not eliminate – the risks.
Failing to address these trends now would leave California’s infrastructure dangerously unprepared. Fortunately, many utilities have been diligent in working to prepare, but challenges remain. Our state’s future depends on water, so we all need to focus on implementing resilience efforts quickly and efficiently.
Mike Taraszki is a senior vice president and hydrogeologist, at WSP in the U.S., one of the world’s leading engineering, environment and professional services firms. He and his team of engineers and scientists remediate soil and groundwater for a variety of clients and owners throughout California and are developing a new methodology to enhance groundwater replenishment.
GUEST COMMENTARY: Climate change is impacting California’s water. Here’s how we can prepare.
Guest commentary by Mike Taraszki
California rang in the new year by announcing that it was 100% drought free for the first time in 25 years. While that’s good news, it’s risky to assume the trend will last.
The last few months of winter were unusually warm, leaving statewide snowpack at nearly half of its historical average. While some places experienced unprecedented rainfall, many are seeing record high temperatures. Swings from deluge to drought are nothing new in California, climate change is rewriting the rules in ways that could represent a real constraint on growth and development. What we do now will dictate the future of our communities and economy.
Erratic precipitation
In California, extreme droughts are projected to increase up to 150% by 2100, placing enormous pressure on the wet season to deliver enough water to sustain us throughout the year. But what happens when winter drought-busters fail to materialize, and summers start earlier and run hotter for longer?
The stakes get higher as the snowpack is expected to shrink by more than half by 2100, being replaced by rainfall. The Sierra Nevadas alone supply almost one third of our state’s water needs but reservoirs are designed to capture gradual snowmelt throughout the summer months. Intense precipitation events such as atmospheric reservoirs overwhelm available reservoir capacities. Paradoxically, too much rain at once can risk leaving us with too little water.
We need to adapt our approach to water, since assumptions that guided California water management for generations no longer hold. This means planning for volatility in supply timing and volume, as well as growing demand from communities, agriculture and industry. How?
We can rapidly scale up efforts to:
These are no longer nice-to-have measures; they’re essential for resilience. And this isn’t the only water-related challenge we need to solve.
Rising sea levels and groundwater
Groundwater supplies an even larger share of California’s water than snowpack does, meeting an estimated 40% to 60% of the state’s annual demand. Like many coastal states, California faces rising seas – as much as three feet this century. That brings coastal flooding and can push seawater inland and raise groundwater levels, driving salty water and industrial contaminants into freshwater supplies.
It’s concerning, but there are steps utilities can take to mitigate the impact. They should:
Adapting to climate change has real financial implications. Utilities need to allocate funds for flexible planning and infrastructure upgrades. Grants, partnerships, and regional cooperation could help distribute expenses, while effective coordination with all levels of government can help align priorities and get the most from proposed investments. Delaying action will only drive up costs and complicate execution, leading to service disruptions and public safety risks.
It’s easy to overlook the dangers when our reservoirs are full. But we need to prepare for the day when they aren’t. Climate impacts don’t always arrive gradually. Some hit hard and fast, like torrential flooding or catastrophic mudslides triggered by heavy storms drenching drought-baked hills. By proactively integrating resilience into infrastructure decisions, California can help mitigate – but not eliminate – the risks.
Failing to address these trends now would leave California’s infrastructure dangerously unprepared. Fortunately, many utilities have been diligent in working to prepare, but challenges remain. Our state’s future depends on water, so we all need to focus on implementing resilience efforts quickly and efficiently.
Mike Taraszki is a senior vice president and hydrogeologist, at WSP in the U.S., one of the world’s leading engineering, environment and professional services firms. He and his team of engineers and scientists remediate soil and groundwater for a variety of clients and owners throughout California and are developing a new methodology to enhance groundwater replenishment.