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From Forecasts to Action: Building Resilient Urban Water Systems under Climate Uncertainty in Varied Urban Contexts

IWRA World Water Congress 2025 Marrakech Morocco
Water Governance, Financing, and Planning during Uncertainty
Author(s): Dr. Alimatou Seck, Dr. Bakary Faty, Dr. Ismaila Diallo
Dr. Alimatou Seck, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
Dr. Bakary Faty, DGPRE, Ministère de l’Hydraulique et de l’Assainissement, Sénégal
Dr. Ismaila Diallo, Department of Meteorology and Climate Science, San José State University, California, USA

Oral: PDF

Abstract

Urban Water Systems Under Pressure

• Rising climate variability and hotter droughts
• Rapid urbanization and growing demands
• Increasing reliance on groundwater and conjunctive use
• Stresses on governance, financing, and coordination
• Need for actionable, accessible early warning systems


Seasonal to Sub-seasonal Forecasts (S2S)

• Hydrologic responses emerge across different timescales: days → seasons →years.
• S2S forecasts offer early signals for drought, low flows, and heat extremes.
• Utility for water supply planning depends on lead time, skill, and local context.
• Bridging climate and hydrologic tools improves operational decision-making.


Future Directions and Opportunities
Levers for Resilience

• Strengthen early warning systems to expand access to S2S and hydrologic forecasts.
• Integrate forecasts and associated uncertainty into operations through clear, actionable decision pathways.
• Continue investments in monitoring and data systems to improve rainfall, groundwater, and flow observations.
• Deepen institutional collaboration by building on existing regional and local coordination frameworks.