Resilient WASH Systems

Building Resilient WASH Systems in the Face of Climate Change: Adapting for a Sustainable Future

Introduction 

Climate change poses significant challenges to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) systems worldwide. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and the rise in sea level all impact the availability, quality, and accessibility of water resources and the functionality of wastewater systems, which in turn deters positive hygiene behaviours. To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on WASH systems, it is crucial to build resilient infrastructure, strengthen community resilience and foster a low-carbon WASH sector. This is also highlighted by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular:

• SDG 6: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” and
• SDG 13: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.”

This article explores the key strategies and approaches for building such systems.

1. Enhancing Integrated Water Resource Management 

One of the primary impacts of climate change on WASH systems is the alteration of water availability. It is essential to adopt sustainable water resource management practices to address this challenge. This includes promoting groundwater mapping, water conservation, implementing rainwater harvesting systems, and investing in water storage infrastructure. Additionally, stakeholders should prioritize protecting and restoring watersheds to maintain water quality and quantity.

2. Diversifying Water Sources

It is crucial to diversify water sources to reduce reliance on a single water source and enhance resilience. This can be achieved by exploring alternative sources like groundwater, recycled water, and desalination. Implementing decentralized water treatment systems, such as community-based filtration plants or household-level water treatment devices, can also ensure access to safe water during extreme events or water scarcity.

3. Strengthening Infrastructure 

Climate change-induced extreme weather events, such as floods and storms, can damage WASH infrastructure, leading to service disruptions. Building resilient infrastructure is vital to withstand these impacts. This involves designing and constructing water and sanitation facilities with climate resilience in mind, such as elevating infrastructure above flood levels, using durable materials, and incorporating nature-based solutions like green infrastructure to manage stormwater.

4. Improving Sanitation and Waste Management

Climate change can exacerbate sanitation challenges, especially in vulnerable communities. Flooding and increased precipitation can contaminate water sources and sanitation facilities, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. To address this, improving sanitation and waste management practices is important. This includes promoting proper waste disposal, constructing flood-resilient latrines, and implementing effective wastewater treatment systems.

5. Exploring Innovative Climate Smart Solutions

Drinking water and wastewater management consumes 4% of global electricity production, which is expected to increase by 50% by 2030. Sanitation services also emit greenhouse gases due to the decomposition of organic matter. The WASH sector can invest in more low-carbon technologies such as energy-efficient systems, systems powered using renewable energy sources, recovering biogas from wastewater and faecal sludge, and producing energy from solid waste.

6. Strengthening Governance and Policy 

Building resilient WASH systems requires effective governance and policy frameworks. Governments and institutions should develop and implement climate-responsive WASH policies integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. This involves coordinating efforts across sectors, engaging stakeholders, and allocating sufficient resources for climate-resilient infrastructure development and maintenance.

7. Investing in Maintenance and Capital Expenditure 

A critical funding gap in the WASH sector is for maintenance and capital expenditure. Climate finance, which is often focused on additional climate resilience actions, can be effectively used to invest in these areas. By ensuring proper financing for operations and maintenance, as well as addressing capital maintenance needs, we can strengthen WASH systems and enhance their resilience to climate change impacts.

8. Enhancing Community Engagement and Capacity Building 

Engaging communities and building their capacity to adapt to climate change is crucial for the long-term sustainability of WASH systems. Communities should be involved in decision-making processes, planning, and implementation of climate-resilient WASH initiatives. Additionally, providing education and training programs can enhance community awareness and knowledge on climate change impacts and adaptation measures. 

Conclusion

Climate change poses significant challenges to WASH systems, but by building resilient systems, we can adapt for a sustainable future. Enhancing water resource management, diversifying water sources, strengthening infrastructure, improving sanitation and waste management, and exploring innovative climate smart technologies are all technical strategies to achieve this goal. While strengthening governance and policy, investing in operation and maintenance and capital expenditure, and enhancing community engagement and capacity building are institutional and policy responses that go hand in hand with the technical strategies for a holistic, effective approach. By implementing these measures, we can ensure access to safe water and sanitation services for all, even in the face of climate change.