Adaptation Case Studies for Water Utilities from EPA's Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU)

Posted on: 1/22/2025 - Updated on: 1/22/2025

Posted by

CAKE Team

Overview

This collection of adaptation case studies are from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Creating Resilient Water Utilities (CRWU) Initiative.

Many drinking water, wastewater, and storm water (water sector) utilities across the United States are adapting to near- and longer-term weather variability. With technical assistance from EPA’s CRWU Initiative, water sector utilities are strengthening their resilience by using CRWU’s tools and resources.

The case studies are presented on a map and through a series of videos that highlight seven of the case studies.

  • The case study map highlights stories from water sector utilities adapting to weather variability with the goal of assisting other utilities in developing adaptation plans. Users can click on a point on the map to view information about the utility and the community they serve. Click on the "Find more information here" link in each case study to open and review a PDF summary of the utilities' story.
  • CRWU helps utilities find the path to effective adaptive measures so that water utilities can withstand future natural disasters, as well as weather variability and its impacts. One way CRWU does this is through EPA's Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT), which is used to assist water utilities in assessing risk to utility assets and operations. The seven case study videos illustrate how utilities used CREAT to identify and evaluate weather-related risks and develop adaptation plans.

Also, visit the Case Studies section of CRWU's Community Co-Benefits of Resilience StoryMap to learn about utilities addressing small, rural, and disadvantaged community concerns through their climate adaptations.

EPA encourages other water sector utilities with these types of the experiences to share to contact us at [email protected].

Managing Organizations

Formally Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU)

EPA's CRWU initiative provides drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities with practical tools, training and technical assistance needed to increase resilience to extreme weather events. Through a comprehensive planning process, CRWU assists water utilities by promoting a clear understanding of potential long-term adaptation options. 

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