Both floods and droughts have an impact on human health so any increase in these as a result of climate change will lead to increased health problems. Amongst the predicted possible effects of climate change on water quality are the following:
- Extreme rainfall events may lead to higher numbers of bacteria and pathogens in surface waters
- In drought areas there may be an increased likelihood of contaminated surface water reaching groundwater through the opening of short circuits as a result of a lowered water table.
- Increased temperature and nutrient concentrations in surface water could lead to cyanobacterial blooms occurring more often.
- Higher temperatures may affect the efficiency of chemical coagulation which could lead to the decreased removal of microbes by subsequent clarification and filtration.
Information sources
UK Government reports
Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK - An expert review for comment
Report of the Expert Group on Climate Change and Health in the UK
Dept of Health. 2001. 290 pp
Chapter 4.4. Water-borne diseases and climate change. pp 139-154
Chapter 4.5. Coastal flooding and climate change. pp 177-218
Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK 2008 – an update of the Department of Health Report 2001/2002.
Dept of Health. 2008. 113 pp
Chapter 2. Flooding, windstorms and climate change. pp 23-33
Chapter 5. Water and disease and climate change pp 76-80
Climate change – good practice from the 2009 price review
OFWAT
Foresight study on flood and coastal defence 2004
Examines the future risk of flooding and coastal erosion, in terms of parameters including probability of flooding, number of people at high risk, expected annual damage and social flood vulnerability.
Marine Climate Change Impacts Programme
The United Kingdom Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) brings together scientists, government, its agencies and NGOs to provide co-ordinated advice on climate change impacts around the coast and in the seas.
International reports
Protecting health in Europe from climate change
Edited by Bettina Menne, Franklin Apfel, Sari Kovats and Francesca Racioppi
WHO Europe 2008, 51 pages
ISBN 978 92 890 7187 1
Reducing health effects from floods. pp 18-19
Reducing the risk of waterborne diseases. pp 24-25
A Human Health Perspective On Climate Change
A report outlining the research needs on the human health effects of climate change
NIEHS 2010
Waterborne diseases. pp 51-55
When Every Drop Counts: Protecting Public Health During Drought Conditions—A Guide for Public Health Professionals.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). August 2010
NGO reports
Climate Change and its Health Implications
A summary report for environmental health practitioners on the health implications of climate change
CIEH. November 2008
Chapter 5.3. Water related disease and climate change
Chapter 6. Heath impact from floods
Chapter 9.2. Long-term and emergency planning for floods and related storms
Chapter 9.3 Health and hygiene advice after floods
Chapter 9.5 Water treatment and management/sanitation
Saline intrusion, groundwater and coastal habitat: impacts of sea level rise
A report by Debbie Putt, NERC Intern to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, Jan-Apr 2009
Adapting institutions to climate change
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. 180 pp. 2009
Books
The Health Practitioners Guide to Climate Change
Ed. Jenny Griffiths; Mala Rao; Fiona Adshead; Allison Thorpe
Publisher: Earthscan. 2009. 380 pp. ISBN: 978-1-84407-729-8
Miscellaneous references throughout the book
Link to Earthscan bookshop