Climate change and water resources

摘要

Global climatic change—the greenhouse effect—is here to stay. Although uncertainties remain about the nature and extent of climatic changes that will occur, most among the scientific community believe changes in the hydrologic cycle and to water resource management systems will be significant. Water managers, policy-makers, and the public should begin to consider the implications of climatic change for long-term water planning and management. AWWA's Public Advisory Forum has discussed this problem for the past two years. The recommendations it offers in this article are not for specific changes in operations, for complicated or costly new infrastructure or development, or for irreversible actions. Instead, they are recommendations for thoughtful analysis of water systems' vulnerabilities to unprecedented climate change and for attention, planning, and continued vigilance in response to this situation. As the proverb says, to see the future is good, but to prepare for it is better.