5 6

Climate Ready 

Water Utilities

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

developed its Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) 

initiative to assist drinking water, wastewater, and 

stormwater utilities in becoming “climate ready.” By 

providing valuable tools and resources for the water 

sector, CRWU promotes a clear understanding of 

climate science as well as adaptation strategies to 

help utilities develop more resilient water systems. 

Climate change is important to consider in all 

aspects of utility operations and planning because 

it can impact both the water resources as well as 

the infrastructure necessary to provide clean and 

safe water. For the water sector, achieving “climate 

readiness” requires a comprehensive and adaptive 

approach that incorporates evolving climate science 

and local conditions, involves adaptation and 

mitigation strategies, and engages a broad range of 

water sector stakeholders.

Office of Water (4608-T) EPA 817-F-12-005 

www.epa.gov/watersecurity November 2012

Is Your Utility Climate Ready?

Climate ready water utilities are those drinking 

water, wastewater and stormwater utilities that are 

engaged in the process of: conducting activities 

to better understand their climate risks; planning 

to address climate impacts; and implementing 

adaptation measures to reduce the consequences 

of climate change. 

The steps a utility can take to become more Climate 

Ready are reflected in the CRWU Adaptive Response 

Framework, which is based on the findings in the 

December 2010 National Drinking Water Advisory 

Council CRWU Working Group Report. 

For more information, contact

CRWUHelp@epa.gov

or visit

www.epa.gov/climatereadyutilities 
2 3 4

 CRWU Initiative: Tools and Resources

Climate Resilience Evaluation 

and Awareness Tool (CREAT)

A software tool designed to help utilities assess 

risks from potential climate change impacts on 

assets, operations, and missions and to develop 

adaptation plans to specifically reduce those 

risks. CREAT includes scenarios based on climate 

model projections of changes in average climate 

conditions, extreme precipitation events, and sealevel rise. CREAT also features:

• Training videos, including information on 

climate model projections.

• The ability to design and compare adaptive 

measures based on potential risk reduction, 

costs, and energy implications.

• A series of reports that users can generate to 

help communicate assessment results and 

inform planning efforts.

Mitigation

CREAT provides 

data and plots for 

comparing local 

historical conditions 

with downscaled 

climate model 

projections for each 

grid cell.

Adaptation Strategies Guide

Serves as an introduction to climate change and 

adaptation planning for drinking water, wastewater, 

and stormwater utilities. Organized in a series of briefs, 

the Guide can be easily navigated, similar to clicking 

through pages of a website, to find climate information 

relevant to your utility and region. Suggested 

adaptation options for each climate change impact, 

links to related adaptation resources, and a planning 

worksheet are provided to help identify and organize 

adaptation options for consideration.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

Drought

Reduced groundwater recharge

Lower lake and reservoir levels

Changes in seasonal runoff & loss of snowpack

Water Quality 

Degradation

Low flow conditions & altered water quality

Saltwater intrusion into aquifers

Altered surface water quality

Floods

High flow events & flooding

Flooding from coastal storm surges

Ecosystem 

Changes

Loss of coastal landforms / wetlands

Increased fire risk & altered vegetation

Service 

Demand & Use

Volume & temperature challenges

Changes in agricultural water demand

Changes in energy sector needs

Changes in energy needs of utilities 

Extreme Events Workshop Planner

Designed for water sector utilities and 

communities, the Workshop Planner assists users 

in identifying how more intense and frequent 

extreme weather events can impact water 

resources. The Workshop Planner walks users 

through the process of planning and facilitating 

their own custom workshop focusing on one of 

five different extreme events: extreme flooding, 

extreme drought, sea-level rise, intense wildfire, 

and reduced snowpack. The Workshop Planner 

provides checklists, worksheets, and document 

templates that can simplify the planning process 

and guide implementation. The Workshop report 

provides utility and watershed partners with a 

foundation for adaptation planning and guide for 

future activities.

Toolbox

A searchable resource library that contains climaterelated publications and tools to assist utilities in 

all stages of the planning and decision making 

process. Resources include:

Reports, articles, and publications on 

climate change and water resources.

Links to programs and information on 

funding for climate-related actions.

Climate-related activities in government, 

academia, and the water sector.

Upcoming events (including seminars, 

workshops, and training sessions).

Models and tools for incorporating 

climate change impacts into water 

resource management.

 Awareness Adaptation Mitigation www.epa.gov/climatereadyutilities Policies Community Partnership