The WASH imperative - Part 3 | Climate-resilient WASH in a changing world

Climate change is threatening access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) worldwide. Extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and prolonged droughts are worsening water insecurity, especially for vulnerable communities. Experts stress the urgent need for climate-resilient WASH solutions to prevent health crises and infrastructure collapse. Innovation, investment, and collaboration are key to ensuring sustainable water systems. How can we protect the most at-risk populations from this growing crisis?

The importance of climate-resilient wash services

Wassim Boulala, a WASH expert and officer at Oxfam Non-profit Organization states, “WASH is a crucial sector in humanitarian aid, providing water is an essential human right, and it plays a significant role in improving public health in various communities.” Therefore, building climate-resilient WASH services is more important than ever.

One major challenge to climate-resilient WASH services is the lack of long-term investment in water infrastructure. Many systems are built for short-term relief rather than sustainable, climate-adaptive solutions that can withstand extreme weather events. Additionally, extreme weather conditions, such as heatwaves, can accelerate water evaporation, reducing available fresh water sources even in regions not typically prone to droughts.

Wassim Boulala also shares an example from his work as a WASH officer: “On September 23rd, 2024, a significant flood occurred in the Dakhla refugee camp in Tindouf, Algeria, impacting approximately 300 to 350 families. This camp is located about 170 kilometres from my current position in Rabuni, where families suffered from extreme damage. Many houses were either destroyed or severely damaged, leaving many families displaced. The flood also caused major sanitation challenges for these families and disrupted essential services, including schools and educational institutions.” This incident highlights one of many ways climate change exacerbates the challenges of providing sustainable WASH services in vulnerable communities.

Flooding, as seen in this example, does not only destroy homes but also increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery due to contaminated drinking water sources. In regions where sanitation infrastructure is weak, these outbreaks can spread rapidly, overwhelming healthcare systems. Furthermore, the destruction of water and sanitation facilities leads to prolonged recovery periods, leaving affected communities vulnerable for months or even years.

Climate change and water security challenges

Climate change is expected to cause more erratic rainfall patterns, including prolonged droughts, intense wet spells, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. Coastal cities are particularly vulnerable to the gradual impacts of rising sea levels, while climate change may also affect the spread of certain diseases. These shifts, together with water-related challenges, jeopardise water security, food security, and overall public health.

A critical consequence of these erratic climate patterns is the salinisation of groundwater in coastal regions. As sea levels rise, saltwater intrusion contaminates freshwater sources, making it difficult for local populations to access clean drinking water. This issue particularly affects small island nations, where freshwater is already a scarce resource.

Juna Shrestha, the Co-Founder of ClimateRE, notes, "Environmental degradation, along with the effects of climate change, has profound and lasting consequences on the well-being and quality of life.”

Furthermore, climate change is significantly worsening WASH challenges, particularly in developing countries where communities depend on a single water source. Juna Shrestha states, "Extended droughts, drying water sources, and floods that damage water infrastructure disproportionately affect these communities. Wealthier individuals can mitigate these challenges by purchasing fresh, clean water, while poorer communities lack such options. These disparities highlight the intersection of climate-induced disasters and unequal access to essential WASH services, underscoring the urgent need for resilient, climate-adaptive infrastructure to protect the most vulnerable.”

Beyond immediate access to drinking water, climate change also affects food security through its impact on agricultural irrigation. When freshwater resources decline, agricultural output suffers, leading to malnutrition, food shortages, and increased competition for limited resources. Many communities already facing water insecurity are also at risk of losing their livelihoods as farming becomes unsustainable.

The need for innovation and collaboration in wash

Climate change presents a significant challenge but also an opportunity for creativity. Addressing it requires closing a critical knowledge gap, as many institutions lack the capacity to comprehend the implications of climate scenarios, such as temperature increases and their impact on achieving global goals like the Paris Agreement. Jaime Andrés Cardona, an environmental scientist and a WASH expert at Fichtner Water & Transportation GmbH, adds, “Effective climate change abatements demand access to accurate information, decision-making tools, and creative approaches that integrate climate models with current infrastructure and socioeconomic conditions. This enables planners to better understand risks, develop infrastructure, and support vulnerable communities, especially those at risk from flooding and other climate-related events that may occur.”

Addressing the effects of climate change on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is critical because of the direct effect it has on the health, livelihoods, and security of vulnerable communities around the world. Wayne Byrne, the Founder Director of Method Capital Limited, mentions, “Water is essential for life, food, energy, and commerce, yet it remains undervalued and often taken for granted. Climate change exacerbates challenges related to WASH by intensifying extreme weather events such as floods, increasing risks for vulnerable communities, and straining water and wastewater infrastructure. Inadequate sanitation and contaminated water sources further worsen the situation, particularly for low-income countries and marginalised communities. Building resilience into WASH systems is critical to addressing these challenges and ensuring equitable access to essential services.”

Investment in climate-resilient WASH infrastructure is not just a humanitarian necessity but also an economic opportunity. The World Bank estimates that for every dollar invested in water and sanitation, there is a fourfold return in economic benefits due to improved health, productivity, and resilience. Strengthening public-private partnerships in WASH can drive the development of innovative financing mechanisms, such as climate bonds and microfinance initiatives, to support long-term water security.

Moreover, policymakers must integrate WASH considerations into national climate adaptation plans. Governments that prioritise sustainable water management in their climate strategies can improve public health outcomes, reduce disaster risks, and ensure the long-term viability of freshwater resources for future generations.

Addressing WASH infrastructure is import and urgent as climate change worsens the challenges to reach creative, and collaborative approaches. By investing in climate mitigation and adaptation, we can help to secure the future of the most exposed and vulnerable populations from the impacts of climate change.

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