Subsector
Current risks/
stresses
Water demand
Increased
High summer
residential
peak demand;
demand
MDD is 455 lpd
BC average
426
Future climate change
impact/ opportunity
Adaptive capacity
(H, M, L) - current and
future
Decreased summer
precipitation causing
significant residential use
increase (and increased
capital and operating
costs to the City to meet
demand)
Increased temps are
projected to increase
wildfire severity and
need for water servicing
City planning for 1%
annual growth - up to
MDD 1,200 L/day/capita
for a total of 25.38 MLD.
City has right to 55MLD
at the Zellstoff-Celgar
intake
Increased
park
irrigation
demand
Increased summer
temps/ less summer
increase irrigation needs
for City parks
Option to maintain
some parks; not others
Increased
park
irrigation
demand
Increased temps places
stress on plants - need
for more irrigation for
cedar & birch to avoid
die-off; damage to
deciduous trees
Adjust irrigation times
and water pipe sizing;
amend soil to increase
water retention;
drought resistant lawn
seed, turf or dryscape
Increased
demand for
fire flows
Current fire
flow
requirements
set by
insurance
industry
Vulnerability
(S x AC)
Consequence
(High, Medium,
Low)
Probability
(Hi, Med, L)
best case/
worst case
Length of the fire
season in the
Columbia Basin is
projected to
increase by 38 to
52 days
Risk
(C x P)
Subsector
Current risks/
stresses
Watershed issues
Water
Temperature
quality:
currently
temp
ranges from
increases
XXX to XXXXX.
Future impact/
opportunity due to
climate change
Adaptive Capacity
(H, M, L)
Temperature increases
and reduced summer
precip increases water
temps and reducing
water quality
City currently logs
temperatures - can
monitor for temp
threshold.
City is currently
accumulating reserves
for filtration;
MoE samples water
quality on monthly basis
Water
quality:
algae
blooms
Nutrient
loading by
MoE has
caused algae
blooms (2007
& 2009)
Increased water temps
increasing algae blooms
and reducing water
quality
Water
quality:
other
microflora
Organic
materials do
currently enter
the system
Increased temps create
suitable habitat for more
microflora - reducing
water quality
Turbidity
Occasionally an
issue due to
seches and
during spring
freshet
Increased extreme
events; higher winds;
Mtn Pine beetle and
more winter precip at
low elevations causing
erosion and increased
lake water turbidity
Vulnerability
(S x AC)
Consequence
(High, Medium,
Low)
Probability
(Hi, Med, L)
Risk
(C x P)
Subsector
Current risks/
stresses
Water
quantity
Water levels
fluctuate
regularly due
to changing
demands
(15-20m drawdowns; annual
range from 418
to 441 masl).
Daily level can
fluctuate as
high as 3m
Water levels
fluctuate
regularly due
to changing
demands
Water
quantity
Water
quantity
Fisheries
Future impact/
opportunity due to
climate change
More water in reservoir
earlier in spring (due to
decreased US demand
for flood control)
Less water in reservoir in
late summer (due to
increased US demand for
hydro generation)
Increased temps
increases evapotranspiration in late
summer (Cranbrook
expected 30-60 % decline
by 2080)
Increased water
temperatures negatively
impact cold water
fisheries (bull trout;
salmon species)
Increased water
temperatures positively
impact warm water
fisheries (rainbow trout)
Adaptive Capacity
(H, M, L)/
Vulnerability
(S x AC)
Consequence
(High, Medium,
Low)
Probability
(Hi, Med, L)
Risk
(C x P)
Subsector
Current risks/
stresses
Infrastructure
Distribution City currently
system
flushes mains
regularly
Future impact/
opportunity due to
climate change
Adaptive Capacity
(H, M, L)
Increased temps causing
more frequent algae
blooms and more biofilm
accumulation and
clogging up filters;
overtime ‘barnacles’ can
build up
Current flushing velocity
not sufficient;
VFD program option
Distribution Currently there
system
is an
acceptable
level of algae in
system
Increased algae blooms
causing filter clogging;
potential complaints for
musty smell
Distribution Currently there
system
is an
acceptable
level of algae in
system
Increased algae blooms
causing potential for
THM production
(carcinogen)
Vulnerability
(S x AC)
Consequence
(High, Medium,
Low)
Probability
(Hi, Med, L)
Risk
(C x P)
Subsector
Current risks/
stresses
Underground
pipes
Expected cycle
of freeze/thaw
every spring &
fall. Pipes are
designed to
withstand
some freeze/
thaw.
Underground
pipes
City already
deals with
broken mains
and traffic
disruptions
Private
City has
water
already dealt
connections with flooding
in private
properties
Future impact/
opportunity due to
climate change
Less snow at low
elevation causes deeper
frost penetration and
increased freeze/ thaw
cycles causing pipes to
burst more frequently
Adaptive Capacity
(H, M, L)
City workers already
deal with some pipe
breakage as a
maintenance issue.
Asbestos Cement (AC)
pipes more susceptible.
53% of all pipes are AC
(much of the n. zone,
Kinnaird and
developments from
1950s to early 1960s.)
Breakage causing
flooding to transportation infrastructure
(rail, roads, etc) and
disrupting traffic flow(s)
Broken pipes could cause
flooding in private
properties
City workers already
prepared to deal with
flooding as maintenance
issue.
Vulnerability
(S x AC)
Consequence
(High, Medium,
Low)
Probability
(Hi, Med, L)
Risk
(C x P)
Subsector
Current risks/
stresses
Pump
stations
Pumps
sometimes
exceed
redundant
capacity
Above ground
infrastructure
already subject
to hazards
Reservoirs,
pump
stations;
treatment
plant
Reservoirs,
pump
stations; t.
plant
Power
availability
Pumphouses
and reservoirs
in fire prone
areas
Power outages
already occur
periodically
Future impact/
opportunity due to
climate change
Pumps working more
frequently to keep up
with increased demand
from hotter summer
Adaptive Capacity
(H, M, L)
Increased extreme
weather causing damage
to infrastructure (i.e.
downed trees, flooding,
erosion)
City is currently
assessing hazards and
securing areas
Longer and more
extreme fire season
increasing fire damage to
infrastructure
Increased extreme
weather causing more
damage to electricity
infrastructure and more
frequent power outages
Vulnerability
(S x AC)
Consequence
(High, Medium,
Low)
Fire Fighter’s
Underwriting
Survey issue?
Probability
(Hi, Med, L)
Risk
(C x P)