Climate Change Resilience through Agricultural Water Reuse for Food and Wine Production in the Hudson River Valley, New York - Spring

Team Members: Danna Creager, Katherine Lin, Michael Bannon, Leanne Burns, Abigail Edwards, Louiza Molohides, Carson Ross, Zhiyao Wang

Water reuse presents an opportunity to improve water sustainability and climate resilience in the Hudson River Valley, yet adoption remains limited due to regulatory, technical, and institutional barriers. Analysis of water reuse practices across agriculture, wineries, and recreation sectors revealed that abundant freshwater availability reduces incentives to adopt reuse systems. Regulatory uncertainty, infrastructure costs, and limited stakeholder awareness further constrain implementation. However, increasing climate variability, water quality concerns, and growing demand for sustainable resource management are driving interest in water reuse as a long-term resilience strategy.

Water reuse adoption depends on improving regulatory clarity, expanding financial incentives, and increasing stakeholder engagement. Agricultural and industrial sectors show strong potential for reuse adoption, particularly where water reuse can reduce operational costs or improve environmental performance. Expanding pilot programs, improving technical guidance, and strengthening coordination among government agencies would accelerate adoption. Integrating water reuse into broader climate adaptation and sustainability planning would enhance regional resilience while reducing pressure on freshwater resources. Strategic investments in reuse infrastructure and policy support would enable long-term sustainable water management in the region.

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