Water Resources

Clean, abundant water—both surface water and groundwater—is essential to the health of New York State’s residents, ecosystems, and economy. New Yorkers depend on water for a variety of uses, including drinking water, irrigation, recreation, manufacturing, fisheries, and power generation.

Climate change poses threats to New York State’s water quality and quantity. For example, sea level rise will shift the depth of groundwater tables in low-lying coastal areas closer to the surface, which could result in flooding and saltwater intrusion into drinking water supplies. Extreme weather events and increased precipitation will increase the amount of surface water runoff, polluting lakes, rivers, and streams that support drinking water supplies, recreation, and aquatic life. These climate hazards also increase pressures on New York State’s aging water infrastructure, making it vulnerable to structural failure.

This chapter examines climate impacts on New York State’s water resources, summarizes key risks and vulnerabilities for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and explores adaptations and opportunities for positive change to help address these impacts and vulnerabilities. It also identifies issues of equity and justice and emerging research needs.