Abstract
Under a changing climate, droughts are projected to increase in frequency and duration in the Southwestern USA. Between 2012 and 2016, California experienced one of the region’s worst droughts, with record high temperatures and low snowpack, runoff, and precipitation. This study documents small drinking water system managers’ experiences during the 2012–2016 Drought. We contribute to research on water system drought resilience by elevating small drinking water system manager perspectives and expertise. We are especially focused on small systems that are not reliant on imports from state or federal water projects. A mixed-method approach ensures each data collection period informs the next to gather statewide perspectives and experiences of managers.Based on an analysis of drinking water manager reflections, the types of impacts, responses, and barriers differed based on both system size and water source portfolio. Common disadvantages that hinder small drinking water systems’ drought resilience and, similarly, climate adaptation include staff and administrative capacity; the financial burden of promoting water conservation over revenue compounded by onerous reporting and funding support programs; consumer awareness challenges; and challenges to consolidation from both local political differences and physical limitations. Systems that built technical, managerial, or financial capacity prior to the Drought were at an advantage over systems that lacked this capacity. In the long term, we found a dearth of adaptation planning among small water systems. Documentation of experiences from the 2012–2016 Drought can inform future planning for droughts and more broadly highlight needs for climate adaptation.
Highlights
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather-related events globally, leading to disastrous impacts on natural resources, infrastructure, and services on which people rely
We underscore the importance of learning from local water system managers themselves to gain insight into what drinking water systems need for climate adaptation to reduce future risks
In the sections that follow, we present the impacts of and responses to the Drought as well as the barriers to drought resilience discussed by S3 and non-S3 managers
Summary
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather-related events globally, leading to disastrous impacts on natural resources, infrastructure, and services on which people rely. Drinking water suppliers in California face challenges from continued and future droughts and other extreme events; climate change is expected to amplify these threats. The goal of this research was to document empirically small, self-sufficient drinking water system managers’ perspectives, experiences, and needs for future drought resilience in the face of climate change and uncertainty. We underscore the importance of learning from local water system managers themselves to gain insight into what drinking water systems need for climate adaptation to reduce future risks. 2. Did small drinking water systems experience the Drought differently from larger systems? 3. What are small drinking water systems’ needs for climate adaptation? 4. Do small drinking water systems’ need for climate adaptation differ from larger systems? 5. How did the state’s Drought policies and processes relate to small drinking water systems’ impacts and responses?
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