Overview
ISO 24566-3:2025 - "Drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems and services - Adaptation of water services to climate change impacts - Part 3: Drinking water services" provides guidance and requirements for identifying and assessing climate change impacts on drinking water systems and for developing adaptation strategies. Assessment principles follow ISO 24566-1. The standard includes examples of observed impacts and implemented responses by municipal water services and jurisdictions to illustrate practical adaptation measures.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Impact identification and assessment: Guidance for identifying current and future climate-related hazards (e.g., hydrological changes, extreme weather) and assessing their effects on drinking water services.
- Methodology: A structured approach for assessing key functions, system assets, governance, operations and asset management, risk management, and metrics and targets.
- Vulnerability and opportunity assessments: Procedures to evaluate current and future system vulnerabilities and opportunities across governance, strategy, operations, and asset portfolios.
- Adaptation strategy development: Requirements for formulating adaptation options, response categorization, assessment protocols, and implementation planning.
- Financial assessments: Guidance on financing adaptation, cost‑benefit analysis and economic considerations for prioritizing actions.
- Templates and tools: Proposed templates for response options, action prioritization and categorization to support implementation.
- Monitor, review and update: Requirements for monitoring performance, reviewing adaptation measures and updating strategies over time.
- Illustrative examples: Annex with examples of drinking water management responses implemented by municipal services or regional authorities.
Applications and Who Uses It
ISO 24566-3:2025 is intended for professionals and organizations responsible for drinking water supply and resilience planning, including:
- Municipal and regional water utilities and operators
- Water resource managers and planners
- Asset managers and infrastructure engineers
- Risk and emergency managers in the water sector
- Policy makers and regulators responsible for climate adaptation and public health protection
- Consultants and environmental advisors supporting adaptation planning
Practical uses include vulnerability assessments, development of climate-resilient asset management plans, integration of adaptation into risk management and governance, and preparation of investment cases supported by cost‑benefit analysis.
Related Standards
Keywords: ISO 24566-3:2025, drinking water services, climate change adaptation, vulnerability assessment, risk management, asset management, adaptation strategy, water utilities.