U.S. water systems need almost $1 trillion in upgrades
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2025 Report Card gave the nation’s infrastructure an overall grade of C, a slight improvement from 2021 thanks to recent federal investments, especially the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. However, the report highlights severe weaknesses in critical water-related systems—dams, levees, stormwater and wastewater—which all received D to D+ grades and remain at high risk as climate change brings heavier rainfall and more flooding. Aging structures, many more than 50 years old, are increasingly stressed and failures in places like Minnesota and Michigan show what happens when old systems can’t handle today’s extremes. The ASCE estimates that bringing these systems to safe standards will require about $1 trillion in combined investment.
At the same time, heavier precipitation fueled by climate change has already caused billions in flood damages, underscoring the need for updated, climate-resilient infrastructure. Yet despite major funding injections, wastewater and stormwater systems remain 70% underfunded, and many upgrades across all sectors still fail to account for future climate conditions. Experts warn that money must be spent strategically—prioritizing long-term resilience, avoiding development in high-risk areas and steering clear of infrastructure that encourages sprawl. Without thoughtful planning, even large federal investments won’t be enough to prepare U.S. communities for increasingly intense storms and rising climate pressures.
