Influence of Social Vulnerability on Water Insecurity in the Western USA

Keywords: Water insecurity, indicators of social vulnerability
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

Water insecurity is a growing concern in the western US. Physical water shortages are now a common threat in some places, with further challenges to ensure water is reliable, affordable, and safe for human needs. Population growth, a warming climate, and a mega-drought place additional burdens on already strained water budgets of this region. Preexisting conditions of social vulnerability can reduce people’s ability to cope with and adapt to such complex challenges. But how precisely does social vulnerability influence water insecurity in the western US? This meta-analysis identifies 55 indicators of social vulnerability inherent to water insecurity in the western US. Through hierarchical clustering we characterized how these social vulnerability indicators influenced water security across the largest water-use sectors, agricultural and municipal. We followed IPCC AR5 guidance to assess uncertainty associated with relationships between social vulnerability and water insecurity. We found that studies in these sectors tend to focus on different associations of social vulnerability. There was greatest evidence for the influence of demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status. Indicators of these determinants were most significant and exacerbated conditions of water insecurity. Evidence for indicators of social dependence and special needs populations is limited, though studies including these factors show significant influence on water insecurity. We argue that growing water insecurity challenges require recognition of different contexts posed by water-users, like the agricultural and municipal sectors. Further, some determinants such as living conditions remain important but underexplored drivers of a community's experience of water insecurity.