Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

Climate change demands coordinated adaptation strategies of drinking water treatment

Climate change is tightening its grip on the world’s drinking water, threatening both safety and supply. Without urgent and coordinated adaptation of treatment systems, this overlooked vulnerability could compromise global water security.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Kuang, X. et al. Science 383, eadf0630 (2024).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Laino, E. & Iglesias, G. Curr. Opin. Environ. Sci. Health. 45, 100606 (2025).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Leveque, B., Burnet, J. B., Dorner, S. & Bichai, F. Sustain. Cities Soc. 66, 102656 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Thorslund, J., Bierkens, M. F. P., Oude Essink, G. H. P., Sutanudjaja, E. H. & van Vliet, M. T. H. Nat. Commun. 12, 4232 (2021).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bolan, S. et al. Sci. Total Environ. 909, 168388 (2024).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chen, T., Luo, T., Thi, T. M. B., Boily, J.-F. & Hanna, K. ACS ES&T Water 4, 4202–4208 (2024).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. O’Donnell, J. A. et al. Commun. Earth Environ. 5, 268 (2024).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Klepikova, M. Nat. Geosci. 17, 487–488 (2024).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Benz, S. A. et al. Nat. Geosci. 17, 545–551 (2024).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Klepikova, M., Bense, V., Le Borgne, T., Guihéneuf, N. & Bour, O. Environ. Res. Lett. 20, 054048 (2025).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Furst, K. E., Graham, K. E., Weisman, R. J. & Adusei, K. B. Water Res. 260, 121913 (2024).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Li, W. et al. Lancet Reg. Health West. Pac. 30, 100628 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Levy, K., Woster, A. P., Goldstein, R. S. & Carlton, E. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 50, 4905–4922 (2016).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. McDonough, L. K. et al. Nat. Commun. 11, 1279 (2020).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Vinke-De Kruijf, J., Heim LaFrombois, M. E., Warbroek, B., Morris, J. C. & Kuks, S. M. M. J. Crit. Infrastruct. Policy 5, 17–29 (2024).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Université Paris Cité, Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) and the European Union (ERC, CONCRETER, project number 101077837). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khalil Hanna.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Usman, M., Klepikova, M. & Hanna, K. Climate change demands coordinated adaptation strategies of drinking water treatment. Nat. Clim. Chang. 16, 236–239 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02547-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02547-z

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing Anthropocene

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Anthropocene newsletter — what matters in anthropocene research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Anthropocene