Climate change — effects, risks and contingency planning

Paper 4 – Small water supplies in Nordic countries: climate change effects, risks and contingency planning.

Small supplies and surveillance authorities report increasing concerns regarding heavy rain and flooding, landslides, drought, glacier and permafrost processes, algal blooming in surface waters and risks of saltwater intrusion (Fig. 5). Most interviewees had not direct perceived effects, but hazard exposure is increasing. Both Iceland and Norway have experienced damage to water intakes in small water supplies following heavy rain, and landslides have been traced to melting permafrost. Wildfire after a long drought has contaminated a water source, though not permanently. Toxic algae were recognized as an increasing problem in some countries, including the majority of regions in Åland and Greenland. Rising sea levels and their consequences were mentioned by water suppliers located close to shorelines. Low-lying areas and countries such as Denmark are especially concerned about this increasing saltwater intrusion into aquifers.

Figure 5 Climate change effects mentioned in the 53 interviews

Overall, the interviewees perceived that climate change is already causing consequential environmental changes and would be best addressed by integrating it into legislation and RBA guidelines along with contingency planning. National RBA guidance often lacks explicit climate modules whereas separate national tools exist in some countries, which over-burdens staff if not integrated into RBA.

One solution suggested by the interviewees is to make climate change an explicit element in guidelines but not a separate framework. Widespread experience indicates that the participation in development of RBA is critical to securing its benefits and thereby ensuring that guidelines are simple and easy to use with limited staff, while access to relevant pilot cases would assist in this. Improved preparedness of small water supplies has the potential to improve the management of risks arising from climate change and to enhance the protection of water and health more widely.