Domestic Water Supply Vulnerability to Climate Change and the Role of Alternative Water Sources in Kingston, Jamaica

Danneille A Townsend,Janez Sušnik,Pieter Van Der Zaag

doi:10.3390/atmos11121314

Danneille A Townsend, Janez Sušnik + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11121314

Copy DOI

Abstract

Globally, freshwater resources are threatened, resulting in challenges for urban water supply and management. Climate change, population growth, and urbanization have only exacerbated this crisis. For the Caribbean, climate change through the impact of increasing temperatures and rainfall variability has resulted in more frequent and intense episodes of disasters including droughts and floods which have impaired the quantity and quality of freshwater supplies. Using Caribbean-specific climate forecasting, it is shown that rainfall totals in Kingston, Jamaica, are expected to reduce by 2030 and 2050 under two RCPs. In addition, the timing of the primary rainy season is expected to shift, potentially impacting water supply security. Analysis of the potential of rainwater harvesting (RWH) to augment supply and enhance water supply resilience shows that in two communities studied in Kingston, it can contribute up to 7% of total water supply. Household storage requirements are about 1 m3 per household, which is feasible. RWH offers the potential to contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation measures at a household level. Policy, incentives, and increased awareness about the potential of RWH to meet non-potable household demand in Kingston must be improved, as well as efforts to reduce the currently unreasonably high levels of non-revenue water in order to move towards an integrated, sustainable, and climate-resilient urban water supply strategy for the city.

Highlights

Water supply and its effective management is a global challenge, affecting a nations’ ability to achieve sustainable development [1]
This study presents findings that contribute to the assessment of domestic water supply This study presents findings that contribute to the assessment of domestic water supply vulnerability to climate change, and the quantification and evaluation of the potential of rainwater vulnerability to climate change, and the quantification and evaluation of the potential of rainwater harvesting as an alternative water supply source for the Kingston Basin in Jamaica
Human and environmental systems are impacted by climate change, and Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have an inescapable mandate to mitigate and adapt to the risks associated with it

Summary

Introduction

Water supply and its effective management is a global challenge, affecting a nations’ ability to achieve sustainable development [1]. Owing to the interwoven complexities of human-induced climate change, population growth, urbanization and socio-economic development, freshwater resources have become increasingly scarce as a result of proportional and distributional access [1]. Global freshwater challenges potentially destabilize a country’s economy, and pose a risk to public health, poverty reduction efforts, food security, industrial development, political systems and ecosystem services [3,4,5]. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 1314 the region [6] While these remain constant concerns for the Caribbean, the impact of climate change is far-reaching for small islands’ economies, lifestyles, activities, practices, and operational cycles [7]. Important sectors for the Caribbean including tourism, agriculture, water supply and energy, among others are often severely threatened by climate-induced impacts [7,8]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion