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Water Crises Top The List Of Global Risks In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts more intense "El Niño effects" in 2016, which can be considered disasters in waiting. These include: • Wetter-than-average conditions most likely in the Southern tier of the U.S., from central and southern California, across Texas, to Florida, and up the East Coast to southern New England. Above-average precipitation is also favored in southeastern Alaska. • Drier-than-average conditions most likely for Hawaii, central and western Alaska, parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, and for areas near the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley. • Some improvement is likely in central and southern California but not drought removal. Drought is also likely to persist in the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies, with drought development likely in Hawaii, parts of the northern Plains, and in the northern Great Lakes region. While risk from climate change may often seem far off or someone else's problem, utilities can use these reports to create the urgency needed to galvanize public support for resilience measures. Trend #3: Cities Using Risk-Based Planning In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, flooded subways and the disruption of essential services in New York City sounded a wake- up call to put resilience on the top of public agendas. In response to this crisis, Mayor Bill de Blasio and his team, through the Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency, created a plan to improve the city's resilience to future trauma. The first priority of this risk- based resilience plan was to ensure that the city could recover and emerge stronger both economically and socially from another major natural disaster. This plan assigns extra investment and high priority to critical and vulnerable public assets like hospitals, transportation, and telecommunications, plus water and wastewater facilities. Short- term solutions aim to provide flood protection for individual buildings. The end goal is business and social continuity, which also provides a foundation for recovery and rebuilding. Other cities will look at this model in 2016 as a way to rationalize resilience investment. Trend #4: Greater Acceptance of Alternative Sources And Reuse Droughts challenge the ability to meet water demand year to year. Utilities are exploring ways to proactively address drought as part of broader sustainability planning. Los Angeles includes the following goals in its Sustainable City pLAn, the roadmap to a city that is environmentally healthy, economically prosperous, and equitable for all. • Source 50 percent of water locally by 2025, using both potable and non-potable sources, including stormwater recharge and recycled water. • Reduce average per capita potable water use by 20 percent by 2017. • Improve disaster preparedness and resiliency for the city, so commercial activity can return to normal after a disaster as quickly as possible, with measurable targets. • Reduce municipal water use by at least 20 percent by 2017. L.A.'s plans to increase the diversity of its water supply will provide national inspiration, particularly as communities accept impaired supplies like treated seawater and wastewater. For instance, the world's largest inland desalination plant, located in El Paso, Texas, produces up to 27.5 MGD from previously unusable brackish groundwater. The facility also removes more pathogens than required by public health regulations and helps protect fresh groundwater. Throughout drought-stricken regions, advanced reuse and desalination technologies are making these alternative sources more viable, both technically and financially. In 2016, the psychological barriers will be the last hurdles to fall. Trend #5: Creating Alternative Resiliency Funding By now, the problems of aging infrastructure and the need to build more robust resilience defenses have provoked top leaders to pay attention. However, while there may be agreement on the need for resilient water and flood infrastructure, funding remains a challenge. wateronline.com n Water Innovations 9 RESILIENCY Source: Global Risks 2015 report, World Economic Forum, Switzerland, 2015