EPA has launched the Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) initiative to assist water and wastewater utilities in implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, with the goal of a more resilient water sector.
Several CRWU related tools and resources are available and other under development, to help water and wastewater utilities assess climate change impacts and develop adaptation measures:
- The Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) is an interactive tool designed to assess potential climate change impacts on water and wastewater utilities. http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/climate/creat.cfm.
- The CRWU Toolbox is a searchable online database of climate related resources for utilities at all stages of the planning and decision making process. http://www.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity/climate/toolbox.html.
- The Tabletop Exercise Tool for Water Systems: Emergency Preparedness, Response & Climate Resiliency (TTX Tool) helps users plan, customize, and conduct water sector specific tabletop exercises on five climate change scenarios. http://yosemite.epa.gov/ow/SReg.nsf/description/TTX_Tool.
- The Utility Climate Change Adaptation Measures Guide is currently being developed to provide information on existing and suggested adaptation measures.
- The Adaptive Response Framework Guide is currently being developed to provide additional descriptions and resources for potential climate changes activities that support climate resilience at a water or wastewater level.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
