Preparing for Climate Preparing for Climate Change:Change:

Protecting our Drinking WaterProtecting our Drinking WaterGina M. Solomon, M.D., M.P.H.Gina M. Solomon, M.D., M.P.H.

Senior Scientist, NRDCSenior Scientist, NRDC

Associate Clinical Professor, UCSFAssociate Clinical Professor, UCSF

gsolomon@nrdc.orggsolomon@nrdc.org

Red Tides

Infectious Disease

Asthma

Allergies

Heat Stress

Extreme Weather

Global Warming is Global Warming is HappeningHappening

Myth:Myth: Global Warming Will Be Global Warming Will Be

GradualGradual

Key Elements of AdaptationKey Elements of Adaptation• Identifying VulnerabilitiesIdentifying Vulnerabilities

– Physical EnvironmentPhysical Environment– DemographicDemographic

• TrackingTracking– DiseaseDisease– ZoonoticZoonotic– Environmental ConditionsEnvironmental Conditions

• Climate-Smart DesignClimate-Smart Design– CommunitiesCommunities– BuildingsBuildings

• Public EducationPublic Education– PreparednessPreparedness

Rainfall Patterns will ChangeRainfall Patterns will Change

The Lessons from KatrinaThe Lessons from Katrina

‘‘Next New Orleans’ may be in Next New Orleans’ may be in California:California:Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta cited as Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta cited as ‘scariest spot’ for flooding‘scariest spot’ for flooding

The Sacramento-San Joaquin The Sacramento-San Joaquin DeltaDelta

• 2,600 miles of levees 2,600 miles of levees (7x the length of the (7x the length of the New Orleans system);New Orleans system);

• Areas >20 feet below Areas >20 feet below sea level;sea level;

• >300,000 people in >300,000 people in direct path of a flood;direct path of a flood;

• Drinking water for 24 Drinking water for 24 million people.million people.

A Flood is Likely…A Flood is Likely…

• Cover Sacramento Cover Sacramento with 17 feet of with 17 feet of water;water;

• Salt water Salt water intrusion into intrusion into delta, delta, contaminating contaminating irrigation and irrigation and drinking water drinking water supplies.supplies.

Chance of a Chance of a “catastrophic flood” “catastrophic flood” in next 50 years is in next 50 years is ~66%.~66%.

Actions Needed – Delta Actions Needed – Delta LeveesLevees• Identifying VulnerabilitiesIdentifying Vulnerabilities

– Where are the weak points?Where are the weak points?– Where do the most people live?Where do the most people live?

• TrackingTracking– Flood risk warnings, evacuation decisions.Flood risk warnings, evacuation decisions.

• Climate-Smart DesignClimate-Smart Design– Don’t build in flood-prone areasDon’t build in flood-prone areas– Let some areas floodLet some areas flood– Spend money to repair and protect critical Spend money to repair and protect critical

areasareas• Public EducationPublic Education

– Flood danger Flood danger – Evacuation plansEvacuation plans

March-April 1993: Milwaukee March-April 1993: Milwaukee Cryptosporidium outbreak Cryptosporidium outbreak

• Largest waterborne disease outbreak in Largest waterborne disease outbreak in documented U.S. history;documented U.S. history;

• Water from one water treatment plant;Water from one water treatment plant;• 403,000 of 1.6 million residents in the Milwaukee 403,000 of 1.6 million residents in the Milwaukee

area (of which 880,000 were served by the area (of which 880,000 were served by the malfunctioning treatment plant) became sick;malfunctioning treatment plant) became sick;

• Symptoms included stomach cramps, fever, Symptoms included stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea and dehydration;diarrhea and dehydration;

• Over 100 deaths were attributed to this outbreak, Over 100 deaths were attributed to this outbreak, mostly among the elderly and mostly among the elderly and immunocompromised people;immunocompromised people;

• Cause of epidemic never officially identified.Cause of epidemic never officially identified.

Drinking Water VulnerabilityDrinking Water Vulnerability

• Recipe for a Cryptosporidium Recipe for a Cryptosporidium OutbreakOutbreak– Impaired watershed (fecal, sediment)Impaired watershed (fecal, sediment)– Water treatment deficienciesWater treatment deficiencies– Extreme precipitation eventsExtreme precipitation events

Precipitation and Drinking Precipitation and Drinking Water ContaminantsWater Contaminants

Giardia

Cryptosporidium

• Two-thirdsTwo-thirds of waterborne disease outbreaks followed precipitation above the 80th percentile

• More than half of outbreaks followed precipitation above the 90th percentile

Impaired Waters in Impaired Waters in CaliforniaCalifornia• Watersheds listed Watersheds listed

as impaired under as impaired under the Clean Water the Clean Water ActAct

California Surface Water California Surface Water Quality AssessmentQuality Assessment

• Rivers and StreamsRivers and Streams– 12,430 miles designated for 12,430 miles designated for

drinking assesseddrinking assessed– GoodGood 22.6 %22.6 %– ThreatenedThreatened 11.6 %11.6 %– ImpairedImpaired 65.9 %65.9 %

• Lakes, Ponds, and Lakes, Ponds, and ReservoirsReservoirs– 652,896 miles designated for 652,896 miles designated for

drinking assesseddrinking assessed– GoodGood 22.1 %22.1 %– ThreatenedThreatened 19.3 %19.3 %– ImpairedImpaired 58.6 %58.6 %

Drinking Water: Lakes, Ponds, and

Reservoirs

Good

Threatened

Impaired

Drinking Water: Rivers and Streams

Good

Threatened

Impaired

• In 1997 & 1998 USEPA In 1997 & 1998 USEPA required source water required source water testing at large drinking testing at large drinking water systems (> water systems (> 10,000 people) for 10,000 people) for microbial contaminants.microbial contaminants.

– 43 water systems were 43 water systems were tested in CA;tested in CA;

– 20 had at least one 20 had at least one detection of crypto, detection of crypto, giardia or virus;giardia or virus;

– Represents water Represents water systems serving approx systems serving approx 18.5 million people in CA.18.5 million people in CA.

Source Water VulnerabilitySource Water Vulnerability

Source Water VulnerabilitySource Water Vulnerability

• DPH has completed source water assessments for DPH has completed source water assessments for 95% of the ~15,000 CA water systems;95% of the ~15,000 CA water systems;

• Assessments include a vulnerability score for Assessments include a vulnerability score for each Possible Contamination Activity (PCA) each Possible Contamination Activity (PCA) identified for that source;identified for that source;

• PCAs include sources of microbial contamination PCAs include sources of microbial contamination such as animal operations, septic systems, liquid such as animal operations, septic systems, liquid waste disposal, AFO/CAFO, wastewater treatment waste disposal, AFO/CAFO, wastewater treatment plants.plants.

Water Treatment Water Treatment VulnerabilityVulnerability

– FiltrationFiltration– DisinfectionDisinfection– TurbidityTurbidity

Actions Needed – Drinking Water Actions Needed – Drinking Water SafetySafety• Identifying VulnerabilitiesIdentifying Vulnerabilities

– Map water distribution systems;Map water distribution systems;– Develop a predictive model for water quality disease risk at Develop a predictive model for water quality disease risk at

the community level;the community level;– Identify and map high-risk areas (age of septic systems, Identify and map high-risk areas (age of septic systems,

topography, agricultural regions).topography, agricultural regions).• TrackingTracking

– WBDSS should be improved;WBDSS should be improved;– Water quality testing for biologic and non-biologic is Water quality testing for biologic and non-biologic is

inadequate;inadequate;– Consider new surveillance strategies such as pharmacy Consider new surveillance strategies such as pharmacy

records and syndromic surveillance reporting for GI illnesses.records and syndromic surveillance reporting for GI illnesses.• Climate-Smart DesignClimate-Smart Design

– Improve infrastructure – water disinfection and distribution Improve infrastructure – water disinfection and distribution systems;systems;

– Protect watersheds from runoff and fecal contamination.Protect watersheds from runoff and fecal contamination.• Public EducationPublic Education

– Public outreach and education around water quality Public outreach and education around water quality advisories.advisories.

Global Warming and Health Global Warming and Health ProjectProject

1.1. Research links between Research links between global warming and global warming and health;health;

2.2. Educate the public, the Educate the public, the media, and policymakers;media, and policymakers;

3.3. Advocate for Advocate for preparedness to predict, preparedness to predict, prevent, and respond to prevent, and respond to health crises;health crises;

4.4. Reduce pollution both Reduce pollution both from toxic chemicals and from toxic chemicals and greenhouse gases.greenhouse gases.