SA Water

Climate adaptation and water utilities:
The primary role of water utilities is to provide a safe, secure and affordable water service to their customers – and more recently – to protect public health and support population growth and productivity.  Considering a changing climate has led water utilities to respond by diversifying water supplies and demand management responses for short and long term water demands.  Responses include addressing challenges such as: water quality of stressed supplies or reservoirs during heat or bushfire events; ability to use alternative water sources such as recycled water or stormwater; equitable water supply for small or remote communities; contribution to liveability and urban heat island reduction. This panel will present how climate change has already impacted on current water supplies and utilities, how it is anticipated to impact into the future and how utilities are responding to these challenges.