Experts Interviewed on Water, Energy and Climate Change

Exloco’s Carpe Diem Western Water and Climate Change project conducted interviews with water managers Eric Kuhn and Lillian Kawasaki on an all too familiar topic for readers of this blog: water, energy and climate change.

For some background, Exloco’s Carpe Diem project consists of “a network of experts and decision makers dedicated to addressing the unprecedented challenge that the impacts of climate change on water resources pose for the western United States.” The project was established in 2007.

Eric Kuhn serves as the general manager for the Colorado River District, the principal water policy and planning agency for the Colorado River Basin within the State of Colorado. In his interview, Kuhn speaks to the need to secure public support behind climate change science and the uncertainty around growing water demands in the energy sector:

Q: What are the most pressing issues regarding the water, energy, and climate change connection?

A: Within the science community and within the water management community there is a general understanding that climate change is here and is happening. However, water districts that serve water to the public or that are going to have to make changes can't do so when the public is still split 50-50 on whether climate change is real. This is a serious issue. As a water community we'll have to react to what society at large dictates regarding how we deal with climate change.

Another issue is the need for new energy sources and the water demand that creates. I've always been concerned that there is a lot less reliable water than we thought there was. Until recently we thought it would take another hundred years to use the water available for Colorado to grow, but the water supply we thought we had isn't there. Add to that the potential for oil shale production to take off on the Western Slope. The energy companies have locked up entitlements to billions of gallons per day. That could use up the last of Colorado's entitlement and leave the Denver area with no water to support future growth.

Click here to read the full interview with Eric Kuhn.

Lillian Kawasaki is director of the Water Replenishment District in the Los Angeles basin, which manages groundwater for over 4 million people. Los Angeles receives some of the most energy intensive water in the country so Lillian should be familiar with the imperative to understand the connections between water and energy. Under an energy constrained future where the hydrologic cycle becomes less reliable, Lillian understands the importance of water conservation, efficiency and low impact development:

Q: What do you think are the most relevant issues to consider when thinking about the water, energy, climate change connection?

A: Climate change is forcing us to transform our thinking. We can't just engineer our way out — to continue to move water via pipes from one place to another. The best way for us to deal with the combined impacts of water, energy and climate change is to move toward regional self-sufficiency and stop relying on imported water. This will require us to offset water demand by aggressive conservation and developing local water resources mindful of water supply, water quality and ecosystems and watersheds. We will have to focus on groundwater sources, conjunctive use (managing surface and groundwater together), advanced recycling projects (showers to flowers instead of toilets to tap), stormwater capture, and low impact development (LID) to meet supply side demand. And it works! In the MWD service area of Southern California, the largest source of "new water" last year came from conservation. In California, where nearly 20% of the total statewide electric use is for the treatment and distribution of water, there are many opportunities for multi-benefit solutions.

Another issue on the nexus between water energy and climate is the often unintended consequence of water demand for energy development including for renewables like concentrating solar and hydropower. Certainly these challenges will require holistic and integrated solutions.

Click here to read the full interview with Lillian Kawasaki.