The EPA's Office of Water hosted a live webcast last week to discuss a recently released draft strategy that aims to address the effects of climate change on the nation's water resources.

Jeff Peterson, an EPA scientist from the Office of Water, detailed some likely impacts of climate change in the coming century, stating that globally, average annual precipitation levels are expected to increase. In the United States this will mean that precipitation will increase in the Northeast and decrease in the Southwest. Snow seasons will shorten in duration and levels of snow depth will decrease, causing an early Spring runoff in many areas.

In terms of water impacts, this will likely mean that droughts will increase causing limited water availability in areas where rainfall is expected to decrease. Increasing rainfall will result in higher storm water runoffs that will greatly tax efforts to maintain low pollution standards in water bodies.

The webcast was intended to provide an overview of the draft strategy, which in addition to identifying climate change-related water issues, outlines possible response strategies. It also aimed to clarify the contents of the document for the public.

"The ideas and response actions outlined here are the product of a cooperative effort among EPA Water Program managers and national and regional offices," said Benjamin Grumbles, the Office of Water's Assistant Administrator.

"Climate change will have many diverse impacts," he continued, "including effects on human health, natural systems and the built environment. As we looked at the expected impacts of climate change, we found that a significant number of them relate to water resources."

Grumbles further stated that climate change can make itself felt on water resources in various ways, among them an increase in water pollution, more extreme storms and water events, as well as rises in sea levels, stronger storms and changes in ocean chemistry.

Grumbles' deputy assistant, Michael Shapiro, summarized a list of goals outlined in the draft strategy that aim to improve the National Water Program's responses to climate change. The first goal seeks to reduce greenhouse gases by, among other things, increasing energy efficiency at waste and drinking water facilities.

Shapiro said this can be accomplished by better adapting the water program to climate change. This would involve increasing program effectiveness by improving water safety standards and providing better infrastructure support.

"Adaptation is important," he said, " because even with a very successful effort to reduce greenhouse gases, the climate will continue to change and we will need to respond appropriately."  

Other goals include creating a better link between EPA water programs and climate change research, providing outreach and education for water professionals and stakeholders, and building climate change into future budgeting and planning initiatives as well improving coordination with other federal agencies.

The panel concluded by taking questions from listeners, and once again urged members of the public, as well as federal employees and stakeholders, to submit their responses, concerns and questions regarding the draft strategy no later than May 27. The document as well as information on how to respond can be found at the Water Office's climate change website.