<p>Climate change in recent years, particularly in the form of increased temperatures and higher evaporation, has contributed to the stress on freshwater resources in arid and semi-arid regions. On the other hand, population growth and increased water demand have made the supply of high-quality water a global challenge. Furthermore, lower energy consumption, along with a reduced carbon footprint, of urban water supply systems has been vital to all communities. In the present study, five different drinking water supply scenarios in a cold, semi-arid city were proposed and compared with a novel methodological approach. The comparison was conducted based on carbon footprint and energy consumption, contrasting each scenario with the existing system. Technical calculations were done on the basis of field data, expertise of concerned authorities, and set standards, while carbon footprints were simulated using SimaPro software. Results show that network-based scenarios, such as dedicated potable water networks and decentralized drinking water stations, have the smallest carbon footprints, while bottled water has the highest emissions. Implementation of bottled water in the studied city would increase daily carbon emissions to over 3,203.1 tons. It was found that the separation of potable water and sanitary water in the current network may lead to the reduction of daily carbon emissions by 130.5 tons, with a possibility of up to 184.1 tons in localized network setups. Ultimately, it is concluded that the adoption of low-carbon, network-based water supply alternatives would reduce energy consumption and operating costs, while also enhancing public health.</p>