Climate Change and Rural Water for Frontline Communities in the Southwest United States

Climate change is threatening rural water supply and quality in the Southwest United States and will intensify water challenges in the coming years. Climate impacts such as prolonged drought conditions and extreme high temperatures paired with groundwater depletion and reduced mountain snowpack are increasing the risk of water supply shortages in the region. Climate change models project an increase in temperature and an overall decline in average annual precipitation in the Southwest, though punctuated with extreme precipitation and more damaging flooding events.