New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Climate change may increase risk of water shortages in hundreds of US counties by 2050

Date:
February 15, 2012
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
More than one in three counties in the US could face a "high" or "extreme" risk of water shortages due to climate change by the middle of the 21st century, according to a new study. The report concluded seven in 10 of the more than 3,100 counties could face "some" risk of shortages of fresh water.
Share:
FULL STORY

More than 1 in 3 counties in the United States could face a "high" or "extreme" risk of water shortages due to climate change by the middle of the 21st century, according to a new study in ACS's Journal of Environmental Science & Technology. The new report concluded that 7 in 10 of the more than 3,100 U.S. counties could face "some" risk of shortages of fresh water for drinking, farming and other uses. It includes maps that identify the counties at risk of shortages.

In the analysis, Sujoy B. Roy, Ph.D., and colleagues explain that population growth is expected to increase the demand for water for municipal use and for electricity generation beyond existing levels. Global climate change threatens to reduce water supplies due to decreased rainfall and other factors compared to levels in the 20th century. Roy's group developed a "water supply sustainability risk index" that takes into account water withdrawal, projected growth, susceptibility to drought, projected climate change and other factors in individual U.S. counties for the year 2050. It takes into account renewable water supply through precipitation using the most recent downscaled climate change projections and estimates future withdrawals for various human uses.

Roy's team used the index to conclude that climate change could foster an "extreme" risk of water shortages that may develop in 412 counties in southern and southwestern states and in southern Great Plains states. "This is not intended as a prediction that water shortages will occur, but rather where they are more likely to occur, and where there might be greater pressure on public officials and water users to better characterize, and creatively manage demand and supply," Roy said.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Natural Resources Defense Council. The work was performed by Dr. Roy and colleagues at Tetra Tech Inc., The Nature Conservancy and Santa Clara University.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Chemical Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Sujoy B. Roy, Limin Chen, Evan H. Girvetz, Edwin P. Maurer, William B. Mills, Thomas M. Grieb. Projecting Water Withdrawal and Supply for Future Decades in the U.S. under Climate Change Scenarios. Environmental Science & Technology, 2012; 120210153558000 DOI: 10.1021/es2030774

Cite This Page:

American Chemical Society. "Climate change may increase risk of water shortages in hundreds of US counties by 2050." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 February 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215143003.htm>.
American Chemical Society. (2012, February 15). Climate change may increase risk of water shortages in hundreds of US counties by 2050. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215143003.htm
American Chemical Society. "Climate change may increase risk of water shortages in hundreds of US counties by 2050." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120215143003.htm (accessed March 19, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES