Climate hazards may disrupt water service for many U.S. utilities
A University of North Carolina researcher examined U.S. water utilities and projected that about half could see reliability problems by 2050 as climate hazards intensify. Wildfire, heat, saltwater intrusion, and flooding can damage pipes, pumps, storage, and treatment plants, as shown by Jackson, Mississippi’s 2022 crisis. The researcher recommends that utilities assess local risks and adapt through measures such as flood protection and treatment upgrades.
Zia Lyle, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina, studied drinking-water providers nationwide. Her projection suggests that by mid-century, roughly half of U.S. utilities may face reliability challenges as climate-related hazards grow more severe.
Those hazards include fires that can harm infrastructure, heat that can weaken pipes and pumps or reduce storage performance, seawater moving into coastal supplies, and floods that can damage distribution lines and strain treatment facilities. The 2022 Jackson, Mississippi, flooding illustrated the risk when boil-water notices lasted over a month. Lyle advises utilities to evaluate local threats and consider protections and treatment improvements.
If these projections hold, households, businesses, and public services in affected communities could face more frequent service interruptions, boil-water notices, or higher costs as utilities invest in resilience. Low-income and medically vulnerable residents may be especially exposed when safe water is unavailable. Utilities and local governments could face pressure to prioritize risk assessments and upgrades, while residents may need clearer information about local preparedness.