Climate Ready Boston
Climate Ready Boston is an initiative to develop resilient solutions to prepare our City for climate change. BWSC is working with the City of Boston on Climate Resiliency.
How Climate Change Impacts Boston
The City of Boston conducted a Climate Vulnerability Assessment to identify major climate hazards that will have the greatest impact on Boston. The assessment evaluated extreme heat, stormwater flooding and coastal and riverine flooding and how they will affect Boston's people, infrastructure and economy.
Extreme Heat
As average temperatures rise the city is vulnerable to health impacts of extreme heat, increased urban heat island effect and stress on the city's energy supply and related infrastructure.
Stormwater Flooding
The frequency and intensity of wet weather events continues to increase with climate change. These storms result in increased flooding and limit mobility and access across Boston.
Coastal and Riverine Flooding
As a coastal community rising sea levels will cause large-scale flooding both during storm events and high tides.
How Climate Change Impacts BWSC
With the addition of sea level rise and more intense precipitation conveying collected stormwater may pose as a challenge. Increased wet weather events coupled with storm surge have the ability to overwhelm the existing infrastructure, resulting in localized flooding.
Boston's Response to Climate Change
In response to the Climate Vulnerability Assessment the City created the Climate Resilience Initiatives that identifies five actions to prepare Boston for climate change.
- Updated Climate Projections
- Prepared and Connected Communities
- Protected Shores
- Resilient Infrastructure
- Adapted Buildings
City of Boston Inundation Model
Introduction
The Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) has developed a Citywide model to simulate a variety of wet weather events and flooding scenarios that could occur in Boston. The results of this project may help inform the City's efforts to prepare for the effects of climate change, sea level rise, and more intense storm events. This website may also serve as a reference for City residents, businesses, and others who wish to learn more about how coastal flooding and rainfall have the potential to cause flooding and impact the City.