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TERI SAS launches M.Sc. (Energy Studies & Management)
Climate resilience in drinking water resources and related infrastructure in South Asia

Student name: Ms Sakshi Katyal
Guide: Dr Kamna Sachdeva
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Anil. K. Gupta
Abstract: South Asia is expected to be the hardest hit by climate change and the immediate impacts could be seen on drinking water resources and related infrastructure. Drinking water infrastructure includes water supply, water treatment, water storage and distribution infrastructure. The availability, distribution and quality of drinking water are adversely impacted by climate change when the existing infrastructure to support these services is vulnerable to climate change and is less resilient. This is an attempt to study the challenges, opportunities and strategies to make the drinking water sector resilient to climate change. Primary data on the basis of survey is collected to prioritise the adaptation needs. This study has developed a methodological framework based approach to assess the vulnerability and analyse the resilience of drinking water resources and related infrastructure in South Asia. The vulnerability assessment shows that vulnerability varies according to exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Bangladesh is ranked highest and Bhutan is ranked the least vulnerable according to the climate vulnerability index calculations. The review of South Asia’s adaptation priorities revealed that South Asia has many adaptation options in the water sector to reduce the vulnerability & build resilience. The study ends with the proposal of a climate resilience strategy and country specific recommendations. It is a step towards climate resilient development in the drinking water sector. This study provides an input to inform the policy makers, stakeholders and international organizations working on climate resilient development to put more focus and efforts for those regions which are more vulnerable and governance studies may be initiated to plan & implement an integrated climate resilient drinking water infrastructure programme.

Keywords: Climate change, Drinking Water, Infrastructure, Resilience, South Asia.