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Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources and Sustainable Water Management Strategies in North America

Author

Listed:
  • Zunaira Asif

    (Concordia University)

  • Zhi Chen

    (Concordia University)

  • Rehan Sadiq

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Yinying Zhu

    (Concordia University)

Abstract

Water scarcity is exacerbating in many regions across North America because of climate change compounded by population growth, overexploitation of freshwater resources, and lack of proper management. Considering the regional urgency, there is an immense need to find more equitable solutions for water management. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the climatic factors impacting the hydrological regime in North America, including changes in surface runoff, groundwater storage, and the forested watershed, based on current trends and future projection scenarios. Moreover, this paper critically overviews need-based solutions for effective water management at a regional scale. The study shows that many areas of North America are exposed to extreme events such as prolonged droughts, devastating floods, wildfires, and altering precipitation patterns. Consequently, these changes are triggering wide-ranging impacts on water resources, leading to water supply deficiencies and influencing water flows and quality in the Southwestern United States, prairie provinces in Canada, and Mexico. The projection of warming around the region experiences spatial and seasonal variations because of the diversity in climatic conditions. Overall, in North America, winter is expected to warm more than other seasons causing earlier runoff and a decline in snowmelt. Given the physical and economic constraints that limit the development of new utilities, emphasis should be placed on strengthening nature-based solutions such as green infrastructure. Thus, the findings suggest an integrated water resource management approach is required, along with climate-induced innovative technologies, to secure the water resources while preparing for the forecasted challenges of tomorrow.

Suggested Citation

  • Zunaira Asif & Zhi Chen & Rehan Sadiq & Yinying Zhu, 2023. "Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources and Sustainable Water Management Strategies in North America," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(6), pages 2771-2786, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:37:y:2023:i:6:d:10.1007_s11269-023-03474-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-023-03474-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Steward, David R. & Allen, Andrew J., 2016. "Peak groundwater depletion in the High Plains Aquifer, projections from 1930 to 2110," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 36-48.
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    Cited by:

    1. Olaoluwa Oluwaniyi & Yong Zhang & Hossein Gholizadeh & Bailing Li & Xiufen Gu & HongGuang Sun & Chengpeng Lu, 2023. "Correlating Groundwater Storage Change and Precipitation in Alabama, United States from 2000–2021 by Combining the Water Table Fluctuation Method and Statistical Analyses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-23, October.
    2. G. P. Tsakiris & D. P. Loucks, 2023. "Adaptive Water Resources Management Under Climate Change: An Introduction," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(6), pages 2221-2233, May.

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