Vulnerability assessment for loss of access to drinking water due to extreme weather events

Drinking water treatment processes are highly effective at improving water quality, but pathogens can still persist in treated water, especially after extreme weather events. To identify how extreme weather events affected bacterial populations in source and treated water, water samples were collected from the Yangtze River Delta area and a local full-scale drinking water treatment plant. Bacterial community structure and the occurrence of pathogens were investigated in samples using 16S rRNA sequencing and qPCR techniques. In this study, the results show that intense rainfall can significantly increase levels of bacteria and opportunistic pathogens in river and drinking water treatment processes (p < 0.05); in particular, the relative abundance of Cyanobacteria increased after a super typhoon event (p < 0.05). The biological activated carbon (BAC) tank was identified as a potential pathogen reservoir and was responsible for 52 ± 6% of the bacteria released downstream, according to Bayesian-based SourceTracker analysis. Our results provide an insight into the challenges faced by maintaining finished water quality under changing weather conditions.

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Hypothetical scenario exercises to improve planning and readiness for drinking water quality management during extreme weather events

Water Research ◽

10.1016/j.watres.2016.12.028 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 111 ◽

pp. 100-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Daniel Deere ◽

Frederic D.L. Leusch ◽

Andrew Humpage ◽

David Cunliffe ◽

Stuart J. Khan

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Quality Management ◽

Water Quality Management ◽

Extreme Weather ◽

Drinking Water Quality ◽

Extreme Weather Events ◽

Weather Events ◽

Hypothetical Scenario ◽

Improve Planning

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Assessing Transportation Assets for Vulnerability to Extreme Weather and Other Natural Hazards

Transportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board ◽

10.1177/0361198118793297 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2672 (1) ◽

pp. 12-21

Author(s):

Benjamin Blandford ◽

Scott Schurman ◽

Candice Wallace

Keyword(s):

Natural Hazards ◽

Vulnerability Assessment ◽

Expert Knowledge ◽

Extreme Weather ◽

Transportation System ◽

Extreme Weather Events ◽

University Of Kentucky ◽

Weather Events ◽

Scoring Tool ◽

The University

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) and Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) at the University of Kentucky developed and performed an assessment of the vulnerability of the state’s national highway system (NHS) to extreme weather events and natural hazards. The assessment was designed as a hybrid process that 1) gathered and analyzed existing and available quantitative data on natural hazards, including meteorological hazards and geological hazards; 2) executed a series of workshops at KYTC districts throughout the state to elicit local expert knowledge on transportation system vulnerabilities; and 3) incorporated all data into a single vulnerability assessment. The workshops involved several facilitated exercises, including map-based discussions and keypad exercises to identify vulnerabilities along highway segments. Data from the mapping and keypad exercises were gathered in a geographic information system (GIS) and combined with the other hazard data to identify vulnerabilities for each highway segment. FHWA’s Vulnerability Assessment Scoring Tool (VAST) was used to process all the data into a single and ultimate assessment. Results from this analysis include a district-level prioritized ranking of NHS segments based on their vulnerability to extreme weather and natural hazard events. Additionally, a district vulnerability assessment report for each district highlighted the most vulnerable assets in the district and discussed their vulnerabilities in detail. This research is intended to aid KYTC in identifying at-risk infrastructure and direct the implementation of preparedness and resilience measures, thus helping to protect the integrity of the transportation system and the sound investment of taxpayer dollars.

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Lessons and guidance for the management of safe drinking water during extreme weather events

Environmental Science Water Research & Technology ◽

10.1039/c6ew00165c ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 262-277 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Stuart J. Khan ◽

Daniel Deere ◽

Frederic D. L. Leusch ◽

Andrew Humpage ◽

Madeleine Jenkins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Extreme Weather ◽

Drinking Water Quality ◽

Extreme Weather Events ◽

Safe Drinking Water ◽

Weather Events

Extreme weather events have presented significant challenges to drinking water quality managers in Australia.

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Microbial intrusion and seasonal dynamics in the groundwater microbiome of a porous basaltic rock aquifer used as municipal water reservoir

FEMS Microbiology Ecology ◽

10.1093/femsec/fiab014 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Stephen Knobloch ◽

Alexandra Maria Klonowski ◽

Sigrún Tómasdóttir ◽

Bjarni Reyr Kristjánsson ◽

Sverrir Guðmundsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Microbial Community ◽

Surface Runoff ◽

Community Dynamics ◽

Microbial Community Composition ◽

Basaltic Rock ◽

Extreme Weather ◽

Extreme Weather Events ◽

Extraction Area ◽

Weather Events

Abstract Groundwater is a key resource for safe drinking water supply. Yet unconfined aquifers can be vulnerable to microbial contamination during extreme weather events that lead to surface runoff. The current study characterises the groundwater microbiome of a porous basaltic rock aquifer in South-West Iceland used for drinking water extraction and analyses the microbial community dynamics during surface runoff. The groundwater microbial community sampled from twelve wells across the extraction area contained over 745 prokaryotic genera and was phylogenetically similar between wells and most seasons, representing a diverse but homogenous ecosystem. The largest seasonal variation in the microbial community composition was detected during a period of concurrent snow melt and high precipitation leading to surface runoff. This period was characterised by an increased abundance of soil-associated taxa in the groundwater microbiome and specifically of taxa assigned to Aeromonas and Bacillus. A field experiment simulating high surface runoff around a groundwater well confirmed the increased abundance of surface soil microorganisms in the well water, indicating vulnerability of groundwater towards surface microbial intrusion during extreme weather events. As such events are likely to increase due to climate change, novel water management tools such as microbial community analysis could help ensure drinking water safety.

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