Gaps in Laws and Policies Leave Water and Sanitation Systems Vulnerable to Harmful Climate Impacts in Frontline Communities Across the US, New Report Finds

Oakland, CA, Oct. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)

New Research Reveals Existing Laws and Policies Fail to Protect Water and Sanitation Systems from Climate Change Impacts in Frontline Communities Across the United States

Today, new research conducted by the Pacific Institute and the Center for Water Security and Cooperation (CWSC) highlights the inadequacy of current laws and policies in safeguarding water and sanitation systems from the effects of climate change in frontline communities throughout the United States. The report, titled “Law and Policies that Address Equitable, Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation,” examines federal, Tribal, state, and local laws and policies governing centralized and decentralized drinking water and wastewater systems.

The research findings demonstrate that the majority of existing water laws and policies in the US were developed under the assumption that historical climate trends determining water availability would remain constant and that communities’ vulnerability to climate events would not change over time. However, the report reveals that these laws and policies often fail to anticipate or effectively manage the impacts of climate change on water and wastewater systems in frontline communities. Consequently, these systems are left vulnerable to extreme weather events, resulting in disruptions to safe water and sanitation services for residents.

“Climate change is surpassing our legal system’s ability to protect water and sanitation systems,” stated Alexandra Campbell-Ferrari, Executive Director of the Center for Water Security and Cooperation. “Without proactive legal reforms, an increasing number of people in frontline communities in the United States are at risk of losing access to safe water and sanitation due to climate change.”

The report also highlights that, with the exception of five states (California, Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania), existing US laws and policies largely do not recognize water and sanitation as human rights. This omission poses a significant threat to closing the water access gap. Frontline communities, in particular, are vulnerable to losing access to water when climate impacts disrupt systems for extended periods, and rising costs make services unaffordable, leading to disconnections for low-income residents without shutoff protections.

“Identifying the shortcomings in existing laws is a crucial initial step towards developing and rehabilitating the legal framework necessary to mitigate the impacts of climate change on water and sanitation access and service delivery,” said Dr. Shannon McNeeley, Senior Researcher and Water and Climate Equity Lead at the Pacific Institute. “This report lays the foundation for a more comprehensive evaluation of the existing legal and policy gaps, enabling the design of drinking water and sanitation laws that are more responsive to climate change.”

Areas Where Laws and Policies Fall Short

• Laws lack flexibility and fail to anticipate climate change impacts on water and sanitation infrastructure and services. As water scarcity increases, the pressure on these systems to deliver sufficient and reliable water grows, especially in areas where laws do not prioritize, protect, and plan for equitable drinking water access for all. Many existing water management and allocation laws create rigid water rights structures that are difficult to adapt to changing water availability while still meeting critical needs, such as drinking water.
• Millions of people in the US are already served by water systems with incomplete plumbing and violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Degradation of water quality due to more frequent and intense droughts, floods, wildfires, and extreme temperatures further emphasizes the importance of laws that protect public health and water quality.
• Wastewater and drinking water systems serving frontline communities are more vulnerable to the increased frequency and severity of storm events, catastrophic flooding, and sea level rise. Laws are not keeping pace in requiring existing centralized and decentralized water and wastewater infrastructure to proactively adapt or ensuring that new infrastructure is built to be climate resilient.
• Except for the five aforementioned states, the human right to water and sanitation is not recognized across the United States. This leaves frontline communities at risk of losing access to water, especially when more frequent and severe storms render systems offline for extended periods and rising costs make services unaffordable, resulting in disconnections for low-income residents without shutoff protections.

This report is the second installment in the ongoing series “Water, Sanitation, and Climate Change in the United States,” a collaborative effort between the Pacific Institute, DigDeep, and the Center for Water Security and Cooperation. The next report will provide a framework for equitable, climate-resilient water and sanitation, as well as an overview of barriers, challenges, strategies, and approaches to achieving equitable, climate-resilient water and sanitation access in frontline communities.

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About the Pacific Institute: Founded in 1987, the Pacific Institute is a global water think tank that combines evidence-based thought leadership with active outreach to influence local, national, and international efforts in developing sustainable water policies. From working with Fortune 500 companies to frontline communities, our mission is to create and advance solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. Since 2009, the Pacific Institute has also acted as co-secretariat for the CEO Water Mandate, a global commitment platform that mobilizes a critical mass of business leaders to address global water challenges through corporate water stewardship. For more information, visit pacinst.org.

About the Center for Water Security and Cooperation (CWSC): The Center for Water Security and Cooperation (CWSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Established in 2015, the CWSC’s mission is to advance water security and foster cooperation by developing a unified body of laws, policies, practices, and standards that ensure water availability for present and future generations, as well as a peaceful, stable, and vibrant global society. Ultimately, the CWSC aims to guarantee water security and universal access to water and sanitation through effective legal frameworks, as without proper legislation, those with access to water will lose it, and those without access will never obtain it. More information about the CWSC can be found at www.thecwsc.org.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The article discusses the impact of climate change on water and sanitation systems, the vulnerability of frontline communities, and the recognition of water and sanitation as human rights. These issues align with the goals of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• SDG 6.2: By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

The article highlights the need for universal access to safe water and sanitation (SDG 6.1 and 6.2) and the importance of strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards (SDG 13.1) to protect water and sanitation systems. It also emphasizes the need to address inequalities and promote inclusion (SDG 10.2) to ensure equitable access to water and sanitation services.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services
• Indicator 6.2.1: Proportion of population using safely managed sanitation services, including a handwashing facility with soap and water
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and disability

The article discusses the need for safe and reliable water and sanitation services, which can be measured using indicators 6.1.1 and 6.2.1. The impact of climate change on water and sanitation systems can be measured using indicator 13.1.1. The article also highlights the vulnerability of low-income communities, which can be measured using indicator 10.2.1.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: globenewswire.com