How To Assess Community Resiliency Through Water Systems

Water is life in communities large and small across the West.

Groundwater supply difficulties are social challenges because social systems are intertwined with water systems.

Experts have established a new paradigm to focus on social water resiliency to fully understand how the interaction among these systems affects communities' water system resilience.

Water systems in communities

(Photo : ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)

Groundwater springs are the principal supply of freshwater for rancher communities on the east side of the Baja California Peninsula.

The economic lifestyles of around 4,000 Choyeros are inextricably linked to the springs and wells that would provide water for their families and cattle.

Such types of settlements, both large and little, may be found across the West. 

Water supply issues are social concerns because social systems are inextricably linked to water systems.

University of Utah academics and colleagues developed a new framework for understanding economic water adaptation in order to truly comprehend how the interconnectedness of these networks influences community water system resilience, as cited by ScienceDaily.

Resiliency scales of space and time

The narrative begins at a faculty "think tank" hosted by the University of Washington's Global Change and Sustainability Center.

Brenda Bowen, GCSC director, and geology and geophysics professor, got to listen to evolutionary biologist Shane Macfarlan present the work he and his colleagues had done with the Choyeros, detailing how and when participants of their civilization learn about plants, animals, and other natural world aspects around people.

Over the course of several years, the study team had developed a trusting connection with the Choyeros, as well as a knowledge of the community and the difficulties it faced.

Bowen recognized the connection between the Choyeros' spring-fed society and the work of U graduate Jory Lerback, now at UCLA, on the geology and hydrology of springs.

According to Bowen, the community's proximity to the water, land, and ecology provided a unique chance to investigate the linkages between people, water, and place.

Bowen, Lerback, and Macfarlan were inspired, so they formed an interdisciplinary study team with initial money from the GCSC, the University's Society, Water, and Climate faculty group, and the NEXUS Institute, an integrated research organization in the College of Social and Behavioral Science.

Eric Schniter from California State University Fullerton, Juan Jose Garcia from Salt Lake Community College, and Liliana Caughman from Arizona State University were also members of the squad.

However, the collaboration of social and physical researchers required to develop a common vocabulary in order to discuss hydrological and social systems.

Also Read: Exposure to Major Disasters Can Cause Long-Term Mental Health Problems 

Importance of community resilience

Communities are becoming more complicated, as are the issues they encounter.

Natural and man-made disasters are becoming increasingly common and costly, as per Public Health Emergency.

Climate change, globalization, and rising urbanization might expose more individuals to disaster-related dangers.

Addressing these dangers necessitates a strategy that integrates what we know about disaster preparedness with what we know about measures that strengthen communities on a daily basis.

Community resilience focuses on improving communities' day-to-day health and well-being in order to mitigate the detrimental effects of disasters.

The development of community resilience helps both disaster planners and community people.

Community resilience broadens the standard preparation approach by advocating measures that increase preparedness while also developing strong community systems and addressing the numerous factors that influence health.

Key preparedness tasks, such as continuity of operations plans for organizations, family reunification plans, and disaster kit and resource compilation are critical, recommended measures to follow.

A resilience method includes elements such as increasing social connectivity and strengthening daily health, wellbeing, and community systems.

Related article: Social Inequality Heightened as Climate Change Worsens