Water Sector Law and Policy
This tab includes laws and policies for avoiding or reducing climate change impacts in the water sector, including best practices and legal and policy analysis.
Resources are automatically presented by rating, but can be sorted by date or title. Apply additional filters to narrow the list by resource type, impact, jurisdictional focus, state, or region.
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Resource
September 14, 2016
From the Georgetown Climate Center, the new Green Infrastructure Toolkit is a comprehensive guide presenting a wide array of best green infrastructure practices from cities across the country. The tool is integrated with this Adaptation Clearinghouse to showcase some of the best examples available, whether you are just getting started, scaling up, determining how to pay for green infrastructure, or working to ensure that local policies are integrated with climate equity and environmental justice efforts in the community.
Related Organizations: Georgetown Climate Center
Author or Affiliated User: Sara Hoverter
Resource Category: Solutions
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Resource
December 12, 2016
Achieving Urban Resilience illustrates the environmental, health and economic benefits that Washington, D. C. could gain from citywide adoption of smart surface technologies such as cool roofs, green roofs, solar PV, porous pavements, bio-retention, rainwater harvesting, reflective pavements, permeable pavements, and urban trees. The report quantifies the benefits of adopting cost-effective strategies to manage sun and rainfall at a city level, and documents how the District could save at least $5 billion over 40 years with smart surface strategies.
Related Organizations: District Department of Energy and the Environment (DDOE) - Washington DC, District Department of General Services - Washington DC, Capital E
Authors or Affiliated Users: Greg Kats, Keith Glassbrook
Resource Category: Planning
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August 2011
In this report the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has compiled local and regional research findings about the water-related impacts of climate change in 12 U. S. cities. NRDC examined more than 75 scientific studies, as well as data and reports generated by government agencies and nonprofit organizations. The report makes clear that some of the most profound effects of climate change are water-related, such as sea-level rise, increased rain and storms, flooding, and drought, and that these kinds of events are likely to increase in the coming years as a result of climate change.
Related Organizations: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Authors or Affiliated Users: Mark Dorfman, Michelle Mehta, Ben Chou, Steve Fleischli, Kirsten Sinclair Rosselot
Resource Category: Solutions
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March 7, 2017
On March 7, 2017, California's State Water Resources Control Board adopted a resolution to integrate climate change comprehensively into its programs and decisionmaking, including drinking water regulation, water quality initiatives, and financial assistance. The resolution creates new requirements for divisions within the State Water Board that will help the agency achieve goals relating to adaptation, ecosystem resilience, water use and efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Related Organizations: California State Water Resources Control Board
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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Resource
2011
From the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), Rooftops to Rivers II describes the challenges of managing stormwater, and the benefits and economics of employing green infrastructure to do so. The report explains how population growth, changing landscapes, aging infrastructure, and climate change are placing increasing pressures on stormwater management. Highly detailed case studies are developed for 14 cities that are all leaders in employing green infrastructure solutions to address stormwater challenges.
Related Organizations: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Resource Category: Solutions
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February 2015
EPA prepared this Guide as part of its Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative. The Guide presents the projected climate change impacts and adaptation options for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utility, for nine regions across the U.S. Detailed examples of adaptation strategies are provided, including those from utilities which have successfully implemented adaptation strategies.
Related Organizations: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Resource Category: Planning
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September 22, 2014
This Guidance presents a framework for considering sea level rise within the capital planning process for the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF). Adopted by the Capital Planning Committee (CPC) September 2014, the Guidance provides direction to all departments on how to incorporate sea level rise into new construction, capital improvement, and maintenance projects.
Related Organizations: City and County of San Francisco, California, SF Adapt (San Francisco Climate Adaptation Working Group)
Resource Category: Law and Governance
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September 25, 2012
The report was developed by Columbus Water Works, under an assistance agreement awarded by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in support of their Columbus Biosolids Flow-Through Thermophilic Treatment National Demonstration Project. The report examines common combined heat and power (CHP) technologies for converting anaerobic digester gas to electrical power and produce heat. The document includes technical and cost information to assist users in considering using more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective wastewater treatment and in-plant wet weather management technologies.
Related Organizations: Water Environment Research Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Authors or Affiliated Users: Jason R. Wiser, James W. Schettler, John L. Willis
Resource Category: Solutions
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July 31, 2018
From The Kresge Foundation and American Rivers, this report presents the findings of an assessment conducted by the Meridian Institute on Kresge's Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) initiative. This report describes the challenges and opportunities for practitioners working at the intersection of water systems, climate resilience and social equity.
Related Organizations: The Kresge Foundation
Resource Category: Solutions
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November 16, 2016
Looking at 17 communities engaged in adaptation, this report examines what communities are doing to address climate risks. It finds that communities are often motivated by extreme climate event and are more focused on reducing their current vulnerabilities to extreme events, compared to addressing future climate impacts. Despite this, there is encouraging evidence that communities can begin addressing climate change risks and overcome barriers to action and implementation. The 17 case studies provide insights into the key components of a well-adapted community.
Related Organizations: Abt Associates, The Kresge Foundation
Authors or Affiliated Users: Jason M. Vogel, Karen Carney, Joel B. Smith, Charles Herrick, Missy Stults , Megan O'Grady, Alexis St. Juliana, Heather Hosterman, Lorine Giangola
Resource Category: Solutions
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