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Working Paper: When it Rains, it Pours: Severe Weather Events, Flooding, and Drinking Water Quality

Paper Number: 2024-12

Document Date: 12/2024

Author(s): Wes Austin, Siyu Pan, and Bryan M. Parthum

Subject Area(s): water pollution, water supply, economic damages/benefits, health, water resources

JEL Classification:

Q25, Q28, Q53, Q54

Keywords: Extreme Weather Events, Flooding, Water Pollution, Drinking Water Quality, Disinfection Byproducts, Climate Change

Abstract:  Climate change will alter the spatial distribution and intensity of precipitation. While more extreme precipitation can be costly for many reasons, a relatively under-explored burden may come in the form of disruptions to drinking water quality. These disruptions are caused by changes to the physical and chemical properties of water, the mobilization of pollution through runoff, accidental spills of hazardous substances, and water infrastructure failure, all of which are impacted by heavy precipitation events and flooding. To test how extreme precipitation impacts drinking water quality, we developed a dataset of drinking water samples spanning two decades and covering a service population of 290 million across the United States. We combine these drinking water records with daily weather information and extreme weather event records. Our results suggest that heavier precipitation is associated with greater concentrations of disinfectant byproducts and increased detection of total coliform and E. Coli bacteria. We identify the disproportionate impacts of these drinking water quality disruptions across geographic regions, water system types, and socioeconomic groups. Finally, we estimate that monetary damages associated with extreme-precipitation-induced drinking water quality disruptions are over $1 billion annually based on altered bottled water purchases, cooking and dining practices, travel needs, work or school absences, and preterm birth newborns.

This paper is part of the Environmental Economics Working Paper Series.

When it Rains, it Pours: Severe Weather Events, Flooding, and Drinking Water Quality (pdf) (6.15 MB)

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Last updated on December 9, 2024
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