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Urban water demand and climate change
Author(s) -
Hartley Suzanne,
Harriss Robert C.,
Blanchard Tom
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/j.1477-8947.1994.tb00872.x
Subject(s) - climate change , prudence , water supply , rationing , environmental science , water conservation , natural resource economics , supply and demand , offset (computer science) , environmental resource management , water resources , water resource management , environmental planning , economics , computer science , environmental engineering , ecology , health care , philosophy , theology , biology , microeconomics , programming language , economic growth
This paper presents a methodology for improved understanding of options for managing urban water demands under the uncertainties associated with climate change. It combines a sensitivity analysis of water supply with forecasts of water demand and examines how conservation efforts may offset deficits which result from climate change. It presents a case study of Nassau County, New York State, USA, that concludes that deficits projected for warmer climate scenarios can probably be alleviated by increased conservation. For scenarios of decreased precipitation, more extreme measures (eg rationing) may be necessary, illustrating the prudence of considering climate change in planning studies for communities which already experience water supply problems.