Water Scarcity and Implication for Healthcare Delivery in Operating Rooms

Background: The healthcare system is both a contributor to climate change, and a necessary factor in climate-related health response. If the healthcare community seeks to provide care that does not further contribute to environmental detriment, there is a critical need to identify, promote, and implement healthcare delivery practices that will meet the needs of patients while minimizing environmental externalities. Water scarcity is a potentially grave consequence of climate change, and steam sterilization for surgical equipment has a significant water footprint; with a disproportionate environmental impact in areas where water is scarce. Methods: In this descriptive study, we calculate water resources within the contiguous United States relative to healthcare use, examine the water use from reusable materials in health care delivery, and discuss the implications for water scarce areas in the United States. Findings: In the United States, water usage from steam sterilization is estimated highest in Southern California counties. This region has the highest water scarcity in the U.S. and is where water scarcity exacerbation from climate change may adversely impact hospital operations. Interpretation: Reducing water usage from perioperative practice by employing non-reusable surgical equipment may be necessary in regions where water is scarce