Climate stress on drinking water infrastructure

Abstract

Urban drinking water distribution networks are critical infrastructure increasingly exposed to meteorological hazards, such as extreme temperatures, floods, and droughts, which are likely to intensify under climate change. Given the urgency of this challenge, this paper presents a state-of-the-art review of 29 peer-reviewed studies (selected from an initial 226 studies) that systematically examine the relationship between climatic variables and pipe failures, including efforts to predict failures under future climate-change scenarios. The review reveals that, despite growing research interest, only six studies explicitly incorporate climate-change projections, underscoring a critical gap in current research. It also identifies several overlooked factors, such as soil temperature, and outlines clear directions for advancing the field. Additionally, to ensure that the review reflects real-world needs and emerging concerns, a global survey conducted by the lead author captures perspectives from water professionals on the impacts of future climate change on drinking water networks and their practical experiences with pipe failures. By combining a comprehensive literature analysis with practitioner insights, this paper provides the most up-to-date assessment of the field, highlights key research gaps, and establishes priorities for improving failure prediction, ultimately supporting efforts to enhance the climate resilience of water distribution networks.