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Research Area: Climate Change

Our Objective

WERF will evaluate the likely effects of climate change on wastewater services, and will assess processes and technologies to cost-effectively mitigate and adapt to the potential impacts.

Latest News

Tropical Weather Outlooks (Hurricanes) – Learning Seminar of the NOAA Water Resource Dashboard Series: Understanding and Use of Climate and Hydrological Data: October 5, 2016
Climate data experts and utility practitioners will focus in on the Tropical Weather Outlooks (Hurricanes) data on NOAA’s Water Resources Dashboard. This session will discuss information monitoring marine weather and how to navigate the National Hurricane Center dataset.
Climate Tools for Water to Support Better Decision-making
Attending WEFTEC? Be sure to attend Tech Session 609, Wednesday September 28.
Resiliency Newsletter
Learn more about the latest research updates, innovations, and opportunities to participate in WE&RF's Resiliency research.
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit - Tips for Developing a Case Study
The Climate Resiliency Toolkit (CRT) is a great resource to learn about climate impacts and help build resiliency at your utility. Check out case studies to see what other utilities are doing.
NOAA & WE&RF Learning Seminar for Using Climate Data in Utility Planning
Visit the Water Resources Dashboard on the Climate Resiliency Toolkit and click on “View Tool Demo” under Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts for the 20 minute video.

Products & Tools

Greenhouse Nitrogen Emissions from Wastewater Treatment Operations: Molecular Level through Whole Reactor Level Characterization – Phase II (U4R07b)
Provides insight into the mechanisms influencing N2O emissions and direction to ultimately create environmentally sustainable BNR operating strategies and configurations.
Evaluation of Performance and Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Plants Achieving Low Phosphorus Effluents (NUTR1R06v)
Evaluates how to balance WRRF operational performance and GHG emissions with the reliability of achieving low effluent TP concentrations.
Water/Wastewater Utilities and Extreme Climate and Weather Events: Case Studies on Community Response, Lessons Learned, Adaptation, and Planning Needs for the Future (CC7C11)
Discusses how water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities – and other local water resource managers – make decisions in response to recent extreme climate/weather events.
The Treatment & Recovery Facility of the Future - Fact Sheet
In a world of limited resources, increasingly severe weather, and a more complex network of entities managing water; treatment facilities must reposition themselves and take on new roles. They need to be able to incorporate the new assets and technologies and continue to evolve in order to address changing needs and future challenges. This fact sheet describes WERF’s efforts to help facilities meet those needs.
OWSO11C10, Barriers to Biogas Use for Renewable Energy
Not all wastewater treatment plants with anaerobic digestion beneficially use their biogas beyond process heating. Knowing this, there must be actual or perceived barriers to broader use of biogas to produce combined heat and power (CHP). This study documented these barriers so that actions can be taken to reduce or remove the barriers that promote energy recovery using proven technology – anaerobic digestion with combined heat and power generation. Includes case studies and biogas factsheet and other materials. Published by WERF. 156 pages. Online PDF. (2012)