Xavier Irias
Director of Engineering and Construction
East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)
USA

Biography
Xavier Irias is the Director of Engineering and Construction for the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), a water/wastewater utility, in Oakland, California, with over 1,300,000 customers. Mr. Irias has worked for over 27 years as a professional engineer in the water industry. In his current role at EBMUD, Mr. Irias participates in strategic planning for the entire organization. A key aspect of that effort is to understand water supply variability and other impacts of climate change. Xavier is a registered professional engineer. He is active in the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Recent professional papers by Mr. Irias discuss using formal robustness-oriented methods to address water resources issues such as climate change. Xavier’s education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Abstract
How Geospatial Technology Addresses Water Supply Impact of Climate Change

For many years, scientists have predicted that climate change may disrupt water supplies, increasing the frequency of extreme events such as floods and droughts. Recent evidence suggests that the predictions are coming true, and impacts of climate change on water supply are already being felt. Much of California relies heavily on annual winter snowfall for essential water supply. Climate change has the potential to impact that water supply in several ways, including reduced precipitation, increased demand, earlier snowmelt, and greater variability. As impacts on surface water supply increases, so too will stress on groundwater supplies. This presentation discusses the implications of climate change for water suppliers and some of the many ways in which geospatial technology is helping us understand and address climate change.