Climate Change and Water Infrastructure Forum
Forum Information
This event occurred on September 4, 2008.
Participating Organizations
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
- King County
- Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
- Seattle Public Utilities
- Washington Department of Ecology
Collaborating on Adaptation Challenges
EPA Region 10 and the Global Change Research Program in EPA's Office of Research and Development hosted a forum in September 2008 to address the challenges of climate change on our drinking water, waste water and stormwater infrastructure.
Climate change in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska is likely to include disruptive events such as increased stormwater runoff and flooding in the wet season and lower stream flows in the dry season. Effects of sea level rise may include coastal inundation, shoreline erosion, and salt water intrusion into drinking water supplies. These effects will have significant impacts on our water infrastructure – costly facilities that require long planning horizons and have defined life spans.
Many of the nation’s climate change leaders are here in the Northwest. Through constructive partnering, we can lay the foundation for addressing climate change and water infrastructure challenges in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. By sharing information and approaches that work, we will all be better prepared to face these coming infrastructure needs.
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