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Transcript
Climate Change Knowledge Area
EXPLORATORY TEAM REPORT
April 2008
The Challenge
Challenge Statement
Develop value-added research which will provide a solid understanding by wastewater industry
managers and WERF subscribers of the likely impacts of climate change, including impacts on
water quality, wastewater services and costs. The outcome of this challenge will be methods,
processes, tools and information for effective planning and operational management of
wastewater services to cost-effectively mitigate and adapt to the potential impacts of climate
change.
History
Over the past year there has been growing interest in climate change due to increasing
concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and scientific findings on their effects. The
interest in climate change also has resulted in new legislation (i.e. California Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006 or AB 32) and new research needs for the wastewater industry. In
December 2007, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) met in
Albuquerque New Mexico for the Water Sector Forum on Climate Change. In January 2008, the
American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AwwaRF), WERF and the United
Kingdom Water Industry Research (UKWIR) sponsored a joint workshop of experts to share
knowledge on climate change-related impacts and adaptation strategies.
Desired Outcome(s)
This Challenge will provide information, guidance and tools to the water/wastewater industry to:




Identify and reduce carbon emissions
Understand and minimize impacts to operations due to changing hydrologic and climate
conditions
Make decisions on capital improvements in the face of climate uncertainty
Communicate management approaches and their costs to its customers
The energy management aspects of climate change are already included in the WERF
Optimization Challenge.
1
April 2008
Rationale
The impacts resulting from climate change may prove to be one of the biggest challenges facing
the water industry in this century. Changes already seen in the record of the past half-century
include an increase in extreme flow events, degradation of water quality, increases in water
temperatures, and rising sea levels. These impacts are associated with global temperature
increase of less than 1o C, and are expected to intensify as global temperatures rise another 2 to 5
o
C by the end of the century. As more information becomes available from the scientific
literature there is the growing concern about the effects of climate change and how utility
operations will adapt. Many in the water and wastewater industry feel their sector will
experience some of the more immediate and dramatic impacts of climate change and wish to
have the knowledge and tools to adapt to these impacts. The industry could benefit greatly from
guidance on how to address these challenges in its current operations and future practices.
There has also been a growing awareness of the nexus between water and energy, and of the
energy demands of the water/wastewater industry. The emerging regulatory agenda to curb
greenhouse gas emissions has shifted unwanted attention to this industry. A recent EPA report
that identifies the wastewater treatment sector as a top contributor to greenhouse gas emissions
will undoubtedly bring a call for action for the industry to reduce its carbon footprint.
These factors point to the need for research the wastewater industry can use to better understand
the likely effects of climate change, including tools to assist in reducing its carbon footprint and
guidance on how to modify infrastructure and operations to address the risks posed by climate
change. The results of research in these areas will allow the wastewater industry to continue to
provide high-quality services in the growing face of a changing climate.
Background
The study of climate change and its potential impacts on the environment has grown from the
confines of academic research to international prominence over the last decade. The majority of
this research has been in the area of water resources and how the hydrologic cycle will be
affected. Based on analysis of existing records and on modeling simulations, rising temperatures
will result in greater extremes in precipitation for both flooding and drought, earlier snowmelt,
increased evapotranspiration rates with drier soils, warmer water temperatures, increased
sedimentation in streams, and a rise in sea level. Numerous documents exist that describe these
effects on both regional and local scales. Only a few of these are described in the following
paragraphs since their findings relate most directly to water supplies and to the interests of the
water utility industry.
Climate change research has conducted by many organizations worldwide, with the most
comprehensive effort from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This
organization assesses and compiles climate change research based on peer reviewed and
published scientific literature produced by thousands of scientists world wide. Its most recent
assessment reports (IPCC, 2007), resulted in the IPCC being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
2007 for their efforts to understand and disseminate knowledge about man-made climate change.
Nationally, the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) coordinates research by federal
agencies on the interactions of natural and human-induced changes in the global environment
2
April 2008
and their implications for society. It incorporates and integrates the U.S. Global Change
Research Program (USGCRP) with the Bush Administration’s U.S. Climate Change Research
Initiative (CCRI). Participants in the CCSP include 13 federal agencies such as the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy, and National Science
Foundation. Each of these federal agencies has a research agenda that is oriented towards the
mission of their organizations. The USGCRP was created by Congress in 1990 with the mandate
to develop a coordinated federal interagency research program. The USGCRP published a
summary of climate change impacts in 2000 that provides a broad overview by geographic
region and by type of impact (USGCRP, 2000). More recently the CCSP has produced draft
synthesis and assessment reports on topics including weather and climate extremes in a changing
climate (Product 3.1); coastal elevations and sensitivity to sea level rise (Product 4.1);
preliminary review of adaptation options for climate-sensitive ecosystems and resources (Product
4.4); and impacts of climate variability and change on transportation systems and infrastructure
in the Gulf Coast area (Product 4.7). In late December 2007 the CCSP issued a draft of its multiyear research strategy, which is a significant update to its previous 2003 plan. These draft studies
and research plan were available for public comment through February 2008.
The EPA is engaged in research that is more closely aligned with the mission of WERF. EPA’s
Global Change Research Program has an emphasis on evaluating the potential consequences of
climate variability and climate change on air quality, water quality, ecosystems, and human
health in the United States. This includes improving the scientific basis for evaluating effects of
global change in the context of other stressors, and evaluating the risks and opportunities
presented by global change. This EPA program is multidisciplinary and emphasizes the
integration of the concepts, methods, and results of the physical, biological, and social sciences
into decision support frameworks. It has recently produced reports on the impacts of climate
change in the Great Lakes and New England regions on implementing water quality-based
effluent limits, and on combined sewer overflow mitigation (Furlow et al, 2006a, b).
California has been a leader in climate change mitigation and adaptation work. A Climate Action
Team was established in 2005 to develop biennial reports on potential climate change effects in
the State in a number of areas including water resources and greenhouse gas emissions. It has
become a clearinghouse of information and plans for the State (DWR, 2006). In 2006 the
Governor signed the Global Warming Act, also known as AB32. This was the first program in
the country to formally place a cap on greenhouse gas emissions. It includes reporting
requirements emissions reductions to reach 1990 emissions levels by 2020. Greenhouse gas
emissions from wastewater treatment plants include CO2 from combustion sources and
purchased electricity, CH4 emissions from anaerobic secondary treatment processes, solids
handling processes, and incomplete combustion of digester gas, and N20 emissions from
nitrification-denitrification processes and from wastewater effluent in receiving streams. A
reporting protocol was prepared recently for the California Wastewater Climate Change Group
and the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (CH2M Hill, 2007).
There have been several recent publications directed towards the water and wastewater industry
that provide guidance on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and on adapting to predicted
impacts. One of the first of these was published by AwwaRF, Climate Change and Water
Resources: A Primer for Municipal Water Providers. This study provides a summary of the
3
April 2008
climate change science and its hydrologic implications for water utilities. Although focusing on
source water and the water treatment utilities, the Primer does provide valuable information on
utility planning and adaptive management that can be of use to wastewater utilities (Miller and
Yates, 2006).
In July 2007 the Natural Resources Defense Council published In Hot Water: Water
Management Strategies to Weather the Effects of Global Warming. This report focuses on the
water utilities in the western U.S. It provides a concise summary of the IPCC’s most recent
reports on climate change, and provides guidelines for water managers to design a
comprehensive response to climate change. It recommends conducting a vulnerability analysis,
developing strategies for addressing water supply and other impacts, and reducing greenhouse
gas emissions (NRDC, 2007).
In September 2007 the University of Washington and King County WA published Preparing for
Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional and State Governments. This guidebook
provides on overview of climate change and its impacts, and then provides a detailed discussion
of the processes to prepare for climate change. These include selection of a planning team,
conducting vulnerability and risk assessments, and then setting, implementing and monitoring
progress on the preparedness plans (Univ. of Washington, 2007).
In November 2007 the U.S. Conference of Mayors published Climate Protection Strategies and
Best Practices. This report summarizes the activities in 52 cities, many of which recognize that
wastewater treatment consumes a significant part of their energy budget. However, few have
taken steps to mitigate their carbon foot print. There may be an opportunity to align WERF with
this association as a go to resource for city government to aid in development of strategies for
carbon footprint reduction at wastewater treatment facilities (Mayors Climate Protection Center,
2007)
In December 2007 the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies prepared the document
Implications for Climate Change for Urban Water Utilities. This brief report (14 pages) is
intended to help water utilities move beyond barriers to understanding and developing responses
to impacts related to climate change. It also includes a summary of predicted climate change
processes and describes the impacts on water suppliers. Recommended responses to climate
change also include conducting an analysis of system vulnerability, undertaking integrated
resource planning (that considers environmental, socioeconomic as wells as engineering aspects
of potential solutions), and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Cromwell et al, 2007).
While many reports recommend adaptation and mitigation strategies, few water and wastewater
plants have made much progress in this area. A recent report, A Survey of Climate Change
Adaptation Planning, provides a summary of efforts undertaken by municipalities in the United
States and internationally. It also provides a review and analysis of 8 recently published
adaptation and planning guidebooks, enabling a rapid review of this important topic (Heinz,
2007).
A guidance document that should be valuable to WERF subscribers was published by the EPA
on February 1, 2008, Ensuring a Sustainable Future: An Energy Management Guidebook for
4
April 2008
Wastewater and Water Utilities. This report is intended to help utilities systematically assess
their current energy costs and practices, set measurable performance improvement goals, and
Potential Projects under Optimization Challenge awaiting Approval and Funding
Start
Estimated
2008
Project Concept
Budget*
Energy Management Guidebook
6/08
$75
Life-cycle tool for green energy options (solar etc.)
6/08
$400
Best Practice Case Study w/ European experience
4/08
$150
Optimization Best Practices Database
9/08
$200
Optimize WWTP for C-constrained world
9/08
$100
2009
2010
2011
2012
monitor and measure their progress over time. The guidance follows the Plan-Do-Check-Act
methodology embodied in environmental management systems and other utility management
tools.
This brief review of the literature suggests that relatively little guidance and few tools exist for
the wastewater industry to help it prepare for and adapt to the effects of climate change. The
ongoing research by WERF and others, summarized below, also do not address many topics of
concern to the industry. To fill these gaps in understanding a series of research topics and
specific research projects are recommended, as described in a later section.
Related WERF Projects
WERF has been involved in several studies on mitigation of climate change impacts, listed in the
table below. These include a project studying the emission of greenhouse gases (nitrogen
oxides) from nitrification/denitrification wastewater treatment processes, and several projects on
energy recovery, energy management and process optimization. Many of these projects,
particularly those involving energy management and recovery, are already being conducted
under WERF’s Optimization Challenge (OWSO). The Optimization Challenge objectives
specifically are to improve operation efficiencies in three areas: energy management, resource
recovery, and solids reduction. The energy management and recovery aspects of this challenge
are also mitigation opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment facilities.
There is no current WERF effort to encompass the wide variety of potential climate change
issues to which the wastewater industry must prepare to adapt.
Current and ongoing WERF research on mitigation of climate change is found in the
Optimization Challenge:
5
April 2008
Number
PI
01-CTS-18UR
Hugh Monteith,
Hydromantis
completed 2006
Nancy Love Michigan
State Univ. ongoing
06U1R06
OWSO3R07
OWSO4R07
Project Dates Overview
Hugh Monteith,
Hydromantis 7/2007
– 2/2008
George Crawford,
CH2M-Hill 10/2007 2012
OWSO5R07
David Parry CDM
10, 2007 - 2010
OWSO6R07
Joe Cantwell SAIC
10/2007 - 2008
TBD
Steve Conrad, EMA
(joint project under
contract w/ AwwaRF)
2008 -2009
Kartik Chandran
Columbia University
2008 - 2009
U4R07
Cost-effective Energy Recovery from Anaerobically Digested
Wastewater Solids. Resulted in the Life Cycle Assessment of Energy
Management and Recovery tool, user manual and project report.
Apply recent nano technology to capture energy in wastewater for
electrical generation using microbial fuel cells running on energy
during ammonia oxidation
Prepare a state of the science review of energy and resource recovery
options from wastewater residuals to inform the GWRC water and
energy workshop. Includes Triple Bottom Line Life Cycle Assessment.
Provide the framework for pursuing research under the Optimization
Challenge, including communications of results, QA/QC. First research
project will be a best practices case study at the 100% energy selfsustainable WWTP in Strass Austria. Will include carbon footprint.
Co-digestion of organic wastes from source which include food wastes
and FOG, with wastewater solids to optimize anaerobic digestion of
wastewater solids and production of biogas.
Expanding energy management concepts into wastewater treatment
plant design procedures, including models and value engineering, and
design standards. Survey of state energy programs.
Decision Support System for Sustainable Energy Management is a
tool for utility managers using a triple-bottom line approach to evaluate
trade-offs for sustainable energy management.
Characterize Nitrogen based greenhouse gas emissions from
autotrophic nitrification/denitrification pilot and full scale processes.
Amend process models to reflect N2O GHG emissions.
* 1,000
Other WERF projects which are related to some aspects of climate change are included in the
Stormwater program, Watersheds and Water Quality program, Infrastructure Management
program and Decentralized systems research. Other challenges with some potential to encompass
select climate change issues include Strategic Asset Management, Pathogens and Human Health,
Solids Risk and Nutrient Removal and Recovery challenge.
6
April 2008
RESEARCH PLAN
Overall Goal(s)
The goals of this research will be to provide information and tools the wastewater industry can
use to adapt to the effects of climate change in the areas of operations, infrastructure, and public
outreach. This will include research on accurately inventorying and reducing its greenhouse gas
emissions, incorporating climate change into infrastructure design and decision tools for
evaluating alternatives, understanding climate change effects on the water environment
specifically related to water quality, evaluating system vulnerability and adaptation strategies,
and developing methods to communicate these activities to policymakers and to the public. The
energy management and recovery aspects of Climate Change mitigation are already part of the
Optimization challenge. The Exploratory Team is interested in moving research on the
‘adaptation’ aspects of climate change forward in an expedient way.
Research Questions
Potential research questions to be addressed by this challenge include:








How can the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment facilities be measured in a
consistent way given the number of different protocols and carbon accounting
organizations (IPCC, the Climate Registry, states and Federal agencies)?
What are the opportunities (e.g. trading carbon credits) and well as risk from climate
change?
How can climate change be incorporated into infrastructure design?
How can we get the public to understand the challenges of climate change and modify
their behavior, e.g. increase its use of recycled/reused water?
What will future discharge limits look like due to changes in flows and aquatic
environments in receiving waterbodies?
What are the financial implications of climate change on wastewater utilities?
What are the key risks of climate change on wastewater utilities and how do these vary
geographically?
What are the adaptation strategies to cope with climate change impacts?
Proposed Research Strategy:
The Exploratory Teams recommends a phased research strategy, with immediate research needs
to be bundled into a 5 year challenge and a long term plan to incorporate climate change in
appropriate aspects of future research under all challenges and programs. The Research Council
recommended that the Climate Change Challenge receive $215,000 and research will be
leveraged by collaboration with other water research organizations to the extent possible. The
Board of Directors approved this recommendation. The immediate Climate Change challenge
will include these top ranked research concepts:
1. White paper to characterize climate change impacts to the wastewater utility
industry Similar to white paper prepared for water supply industry (Miller, K., and D.
Yates, 2006), this paper will provide an overview and discussion of the range of potential
7
April 2008
impacts that could affect the wastewater industry along with cost impact projections
based on various scenarios (e.g., sensitivity analysis to determine what the “big cost”
factors are). This study will require input from the wastewater industry focused review
and case studies on historic extreme events projects. The outcome of this project will feed
into the vulnerability analysis project.
2. Wastewater Industry Focused Review on Climate Change Knowledge and Research
Organizations. There are so many research activities on climate change ongoing under
numerous international (e.g. IPCC), Federal (e.g. National Center for Atmospheric
Research) and state organizations (e.g. The Climate Registry) that the overall resources
available and responsibilities of each organization are unclear. We must identify the best
analyses, papers and studies before we can really identify research gaps in areas of
immediate concern to WERF subscribers. While much of this will occur with each of the
following projects, an overview of the state of climate change research will frame the
path of the challenge and in conjunction with case studies project on historic extreme
events described below will form the basis for the white paper on impacts to the
wastewater utility industry
3. Clearinghouse/Guide for Navigating Climate Change Information, including trading
in a Market-system, and Applying Consistent Energy Metrics Guidebook with
definitions, consistent metrics, introduction, and guidance on carbon trading for the
wastewater sector plus other information to support WWTP with sustainable, efficient
operations and management. Develop a clearinghouse of information, tools and case
studies of best practices to adapt to climate change.
Additional potential projects on climate change were considered and may be undertaken in the
future:
1. Guidance document on carbon trading for the WW utility sector. Prepare a guidance
document for WERF subscribers that is a primer on carbon trading for the wastewater
industry.
2. Demonstrate net sequestration of carbon in biosolids as compost or land application.
3. Evaluate Regulatory Barriers to Sustainability under Climate Change.
4. Wastewater Industry Vulnerability Analysis Handbook. A range of potential impacts will
be developed in the white paper characterizing climate change impacts to the wastewater
industry. This document will assist utility managers and engineers in apply a broad range
of impacts to their facility specific operations and issues. A "what if" format might be
appropriate to develop spreadsheets showing potential consequences, the risk of that
consequence and then options for mitigating that risk with cost information.
5. Case studies on historic extreme events and effects on WW treatment plant operations.
Evaluate case studies of extreme wet events and dry periods to assist infrastructure
planners to adapt to climate change, particularly to high flows, ocean rise, etc. Recent
8
April 2008
experiences of severe drought in western Europe may provide insights concerning
possible impacts in North America;
6. Wastewater Industry Emissions Inventory and Verification Handbook. Build on the
ongoing work quantifying CH4 and N2O emissions (e.g. Unsolicited Research project
U4R07), and results from the literature review report to integrate emission protocols
already developed for CO2 and the other three GHG pollutants as applicable to our
industry, to transform the protocols developed in California and the United Kingdom for
CH4 and N2O into a comprehensive and manageable handbook which can be a primary
source for our industry to determine greenhouse gas emissions.
7. Post discharge conversion of NH3 and NO3- to intermediate GHG nitrogen species like
N2O and NO. Develop a receiving water model of the nitrification/ denitrification cycle
with verified GHG emission predictions for a variety of water bodies and discharge
limits.
8. Evaluate impacts of climate change on the designated use of waterbodies and/or review
the UAA process to project how states may refine their designated uses.
9. Infrastructure planning to adapt cost-effective responses to climate change.
10. Identify carbon footprint in new infrastructure/construction.
11. Climate change impacts on soils and underground assets.
The Exploratory Team anticipates that energy management, and energy and resource recovery
research results under the Optimization challenge, will inform the Climate Change Challenge,
but that these green house gas mitigation projects are best left in the ongoing Optimization
challenge. As the immediate research needs listed above are addressed, future research under
WERF will include aspects of climate change. The conceptual model of the Climate Change
research plan is shown below:
9
April 2008
Climate Change
Mitigation
Adaptation
Storm Water
Optimization
Energy Mgmt
High Priority
Challenge
Emissions
Caps
Credits
Infrastructure
Management
Vulnerability
Extreme
Events
Carbon Market
Pathogens &
Human Health
Decentralized
Water Quality
& Watersheds
Solids
Risk
Nutrients
The research strategy falls into two broad areas: to develop guidance and tools to assist the
wastewater utility industry in addressing a variety of issues relating to climate change and to
further research into appropriate green house gas emission protocols for the wastewater industry
and reduce the carbon footprint. The first year comprises research topics recommended by
international experts and includes reviews of knowledge, challenge framework, white papers and
case studies. The second and third year will include developing handbooks, guides, establishing
protocols, conducting models and creating tools to assist the industry in making informed
decisions. In general these are single projects that last from 6 months to several years.
10
April 2008
Project
Year
2008
1 2 3 4
Q Q Q Q
2009
2010
2011
2012
Convene IAT
1 Review of Knowledge of existing CC/EM tools
2 White Paper on CC Adaptation
3 Clearinghouse and Guide for Climate Change
Desired Deliverables/products
Several different deliverables would be produced, including but not limited to: reports, papers,
fact sheets, technical briefs, regulatory handbooks, guides, model and spreadsheet tools as CDROM and web tools, workshops and conference presentations, plus learning modules &/or
specific power point presentations. The following table identifies the logical assignment of often
requested handbooks and guides between the Optimization and Climate Change Challenges.
Project resulting in the Preparation of Handbooks
Wastewater Industry Vulnerability Analysis Handbook
Wastewater Emissions Inventory and Verification
Guidance Handbook
Handbook on Design and Operation of WWTPs to
reduce GHG Emissions (in a C-Constrained World)
Wastewater Industry Energy Efficiency Handbook
Aspect
Adaptation
Mitigation
Challenge
Climate Change
Climate Change
Mitigation
Optimization
Mitigation
Optimization
Target Audiences
The audience would be wastewater treatment professionals (utility managers and engineers),
industries, governmental agencies (local, county, state, and federal), academic institutions,
consulting engineers and scientists, international organizations (WHO, UN, ADB, World Bank),
NGOs, and various environmental and other professional organizations.
Project
1 Review of Knowledge
2 White Paper on CC Adaptation
Deliverables
Framework, technical brief,
organizational brief
Whitepaper, primer
3 Vulnerability Analysis Handbook
4 Case Studies on Extreme Events
Handbook, tools
Report, fact sheets,
5 Guide for Navigating Climate Change
Guide, toolbox, conversions
6 Emissions Inventory Handbook
Handbook, protocols,
spreadsheet tools
Model, report
Guide book, fact sheet
7 Post Discharge N-cycle model
8 Guide to Carbon Trading
Audience
managers, researchers
managers, engineers,
scientists, public
managers
managers, engineers,
scientists
managers, engineers,
scientists
engineers, scientists
Engineers, scientists
managers
FIRST STEP(S) FOR FUNDING
Research priorities and strategy would be developed by WERF in consultation with “water
environment industry” experts. This would then form the basis to seek funding and forge
partnerships with various organizations, including but not limited to the following:
 U.S. EPA, including regions
11
April 2008







State agencies
NACWA
AwwaRF
Wastewater treatment facilities (through WERF’s Targeted Collaborative Research or Peer
Review Research program)
WEF (Information Exchange and Technology Transfer)
IWA (International Water Association)
Equipment and process manufacturers and vendors
The following potential funding sources will also be approached to reflect WERF’s international
Subscribers and global perspective:


Global Water Research Coalition
UK Water Industry Research
FEASIBILITY DISCUSSION
The Challenge described above measures up well when assessed in terms of the Screening and
Selection Criteria developed for the Research Council to further evaluate the Challenges. Below
is a narrative which indicates how well the resource recovery from wastewater solids Challenge
meets these criteria.
Selection & Screening Criteria Discussion
1. Fits within WERF’s Mission. WERF is well suited to manage, coordinate, and fund (or
co-fund) the research activities under the Climate Change Challenge. Identification of
the affects of climate change on the water environment and the wastewater industry is
directly related to WERF’s mission.
2. Cross Cutting or Broadly Applicable. The Climate Change Challenge crosses into
every WERF Program Area and overlaps with several other Challenge areas.
3. Broadly Useful. The Climate Change Challenge provides value to almost all of the
various sectors of WERF Subscribers and the water quality community. Climate change
seems to be a cross-cutting challenge; however, focusing a new challenge on select
climate change research sets a high priority to further this research.
4. Leverages Existing Efforts/ Breaks New Ground. The Climate Change Challenge
advances short-term, incremental knowledge by building on existing research activities,
but also establishes important new information and knowledge in response to an
immediate need.
5. Timely. There is an urgent need for research on climate change, specifically for the select
research questions prioritized into a new challenge.
6. Policy is in Place to Support Use of the Research. Legal or regulatory policies are
being promulgated that would require action for greenhouse gas inventories, potential
12
April 2008
carbon caps and opportunities to take advantage of carbon credits and trading by applying
the results of this challenge.
7. Solves a Problem. Successfully addressing the research needs prioritized in the
Challenge will improve Subscriber’s ability to successfully serve their customers in the
light of impending climate change, assist wastewater utilities comply with new
regulations, and improve the water environment.
8. Technically Feasible. The Challenge is framed around 8 specific research concepts in
order to be technically feasible and achievable in the time frame identified. The resultant
research products are likely to be used by Subscribers and in fact, are requested by
subscribers. The need is now for these projects. Ongoing or long term climate change
issues can be addressed throughout existing challenges and programs.
9. Financially Feasible. The Challenge is framed to be focused and financially feasible.
10. Leverages Resources of other Organizations. Undertaking the Climate Change
Challenge includes the likely potential for multiple sources of funding or technical
support.
Selected Publications on Climate Change Impacts on Water Supplies
CH2M Hill, 2007. Discussion Paper for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Sector Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Reporting Protocol. Prepared for the California Wastewater Climate Change Group
and the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies. September.
California Department of Water Resources, 2006. Progress on Incorporating Climate Change
into Planning and Management of California’s Water Resources. July.
[http://www.amwa.net/galleries/climate-change/AMWA_Climate_Change_Paper_12.13.07.pdf],
accessed August 2007.
Cromwell, J.E., et al, 2007. Implications of Climate Change for Urban Water Utilities.
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. 18p.
[http://www.ca.gov/climatechange/docs/DWRCclimatechangeJuly06.pdf], accessed December
2007.
Furlow, J., T. Johnson, and B. Bierwagen, and ICF International, 2006a. A Screening
Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)
Mitigation in the Great Lakes and New England Regions. External Review Draft Report.
EPA/600/R-07/033A. September.
Furlow, J., T. Johnson, and B. Bierwagen, and ICF International, 2006a. A Screening
Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the costs of Implementing Water
Quality-Based Effluent Limits and Publicly-Owned Treatment Works in the Great Lakes Region.
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