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Climate Change, Water, and Risk

Current Water Demands Are Not Sustainable

Climate change will have a significant impact on the sustainability of water supplies in the coming decades. A new analysis, performed by consulting firm Tetra Tech for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), examined the effects of global warming on water supply and demand in the contiguous United States. The study found that more than 1,100 counties -- one-third of all counties in the lower 48 -- will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as the result of global warming. More than 400 of these counties will face extremely high risks of water shortages.

Water Supply Sustainability Overview by State

Water Shortage Risk and Crop Value in At-Risk Counties, by State (pdf)

Alabama - Iowa ↓

Alabama	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Arizona	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Arkansas	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
California	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Colorado	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Delaware, Maryland and Washington, DC	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Florida	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Georgia	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Idaho	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Illinois	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Indiana	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Iowa	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change

Kansas - Montana ↓

Kansas	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Kentucky	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Louisiana	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Michigan	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Minnesota	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Mississippi	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Missouri	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Montana	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change

Nebraska - Pennsylvania ↓

Nebraska	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Nevada	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
New England	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
New Jersey	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
New Mexico	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
New York	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
North Carolina	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
North Dakota	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Ohio	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Oklahoma	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Oregon	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Pennsylvania	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change

South Carolina - Wyoming ↓

South Carolina	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
South Dakota	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Tennessee	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Texas	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Utah	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Virginia	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Washington	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
West Virginia	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Wisconsin	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change
Wyoming	With Climate Change	Without Climate Change

last revised 7/16/2010

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Issue Areas

Climate Change, Water, and Risk

Current Water Demands Are Not Sustainable

Read The Fact Sheet

Water Supply Sustainability Overview by State

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This Is Global Warming

Switchboard Blogs

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Issue Areas

Climate Change, Water, and Risk

Current Water Demands Are Not Sustainable

Read The Fact Sheet

Water Supply Sustainability Overview by State

Related NRDC Webpages:

Press Release - Report: More than One Out of Three U.S. Counties Face Water Shortages Due to Climate Change

National Water Shortage News Conference (mp3)

Related Websites:

Evaluating Sustainability of Projected Water Demands in 2050

Agricultural Carbon Market Working Group - Science

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