WASHINGTON, DC, FEB 18, 2002 -- Extreme weather related to climate change potentially threatens utilities that produce drinking water and treat wastewater.
In a new Government Accountability Office report, the agency examined federal technical and financial assistance to make such infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather and asked experts about additional options.
“For example, EPA provides technical assistance to utilities to improve resilience,” the report said. “However, EPA’s program is small and can’t help nationwide. Experts told us a network of technical advisors could be organized to assist nationally.”
The report examines federal technical and financial assistance to utilities for enhancing climate resilience, and options experts identified for providing additional assistance, among other things. Titled Technical Assistance and Climate Resilience Planning Could Help Utilities Prepare for Potential Climate Change Impacts, was based on interviews with officials at EPA, FEMA, HUD, and USDA, representatives from 15 water utilities, and 10 outside experts.
GAO recommends that that EPA identify technical assistance providers and engage them in a network to help water utilities incorporate climate resilience into infrastructure projects. Also, Congress should consider requiring that climate resilience be considered in planning for federally funded water infrastructure projects. EPA neither agreed nor disagreed. GAO believes the recommendation is still warranted.
“By identifying existing technical assistance providers and engaging them in a network to help utilities incorporate climate resilience into their infrastructure projects on an ongoing basis, EPA would have better assurance that climate information was effectively exchanged among federal agencies and utilities,” the report stated.
Learn more, and read the full report here.
