# Why water security matters to cities under extreme heat in the Global North

## TL;DR

Household water security is crucial for cities in the Global North to adapt to extreme heat, but it is not equally available to everyone.

## Contribution

The paper highlights how water security is uneven in the Global North and should be central to urban heat justice.

## Key findings

- Water security is not universal in urban areas of the Global North.
- Uneven water security leads to varied heat adaptation strategies among households.
- Improving water security is essential for addressing urban heat justice.

## Abstract

Household water security — safe, affordable, reliable, and acceptable water for a thriving life — is a key avenue for adapting to extreme and chronic heat, particularly in cities. We argue that household water security is far from universal in the urban Global North, resulting in uneven capacities and strategies to adapt to heat, outside and within the home. We synthesize key insights to advance water security as a central plank of urban heat justice.