Water quality

Climate change is increasingly affecting our health through water. More intense rainfall, longer periods of drought and rising sea levels increase the risk of water nuisance and flooding, and can compromise the quality of drinking water, recreational water and surface water. As a result, pathogens can spread more easily, chemical substances can be released from soil and urban areas, and the likelihood of issues such as harmful algal blooms increases.

The impacts range from infections and skin conditions to mould in homes, disruption of healthcare and prolonged stress following water damage. Not everyone faces the same level of risk: children, older people and those living in vulnerable housing conditions are often more severely affected. Within the Climate Health Institute, the focus is both on understanding these health risks and on developing solutions. We investigate how exposure to contaminated water affects health, why certain groups are more vulnerable, and how policy, the design of the living environment and preventive measures can contribute to protection in a fair and effective way.