Enhancing America’s water infrastructure will create public-private collaborations for at least another decade

Climate change has created massive damage to America’s infrastructure and the damage continues. Severe weather events seem to be in our future. Federal funding, along with state funding, has been made available for hundreds of stabilization projects. This type of work will continue for the next several years along with repair work that has resulted from storms, wildfires, and unprecedented temperatures throughout America.

Upgrades to water systems and roadways damaged by flooding and climate change are top priorities for many states. Flooding is one of the highest risks, and it causes great damage to all types of infrastructure systems. Roadway damage is heavy when flooding occurs, but bridges are also suffering from extreme heat, erosion and heavy traffic. Water systems throughout the country were already aging before climate change became noticeable, and now, they are not able to handle massive amounts of water that result from flooding. 

Approximately half the world’s population experiences water scarcity for all or at least parts of every year, and the number of people affected by water scarcity is growing as populations increase and weather patterns become more unpredictable and extreme. Officials in many states are launching water infrastructure projects to increase water supply or provide more efficient use of available resources to curb the negative impacts of water stress.

The Upper Thompson Sanitation District in Estes Park, Colorado, will be the site of a $127 million water infrastructure project that will deliver a new water reclamation facility. The work will also include construction of two lift stations and other upgrades designed to increase resilience against natural disasters, specifically flooding and wildfires. The new reclamation facility will deliver clean drinking water to downstream communities while also contributing to water sustainability and increasing the efficiency of wastewater treatment. Construction is scheduled for late 2024 or early 2025.

City officials in Silver Lake, Minnesota, will oversee a $23 million dam modification project designed to revitalize the lake’s ecosystem and upgrade the region’s critical water infrastructure. Project components will include sediment removal, installation of storm mains and significant dam modification work. The work will also upgrade the city water and sewer systems to ensure long-term sustainability. Improved water flow management and enhanced stormwater drainage systems are needed to prevent localized flooding and maintain water quality when weather events occur. Surveys and design work is expected to continue through 2025, and contractors will begin work in 2026.

Officials in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, had the city’s stormwater system evaluated, and the finding was that a major overhaul is needed. The city’s stormwater needed to be more directly routed to the nearby lake to mitigate flooding. Because of the increased intensity and duration of storms, the existing system cannot handle the increased flow volumes forced through the pump station. A partially combined sewer system currently collects stormwater and sewage in the same pipe for treatment and during heavy rain, stormwater enters faster than it can drain, causing backups and roadway flooding. The upcoming project has a projected $29 million cost estimate. Bidding for construction services will occur in early 2025.

City leaders in Savannah, Georgia, have announced a $42 million project to address flooding and drainage issues that have impacted two older neighborhoods - Cloverdale and Carver Village. The mitigation plan will include construction of new coverts, storm drains and upgraded infrastructure to direct runoff into the Springfield Canal. Currently a project launch is waiting on the completion of engineering and survey work. Once that is completed, details related to bidding will be announced.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe, located in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota was awarded $60 million for a resiliency project that will be designed to improve 29 miles of roadway along Route 33. The work will stabilize the roadway by improving drainage and installing resilient pavement to repair parts of the roadway and also ward off future damage caused by flooding. Other project components will include widening ditches, increasing the size of culverts, adding larger culverts, raising sections of the road and widening highway shoulders for emergencies and evacuations. Construction will begin in 2026.

A project to protect Florida’s water infrastructure will be launched in Lee County. Officials there will oversee a project to rebuild the Fort Myers Beach Pier after it was destroyed by a hurricane. The $17.1 million project will re-create the pier at its former location and extend and upgrade it to withstand future storms. At the conclusion of design work, solicitations for construction services will be issued – most likely in late 2025 or early 2026.

Commissioners at Harris County in Texas recently announced a disaster recovery and preparedness initiative designed to mitigate severe flood risks in the Vince Bayou Watershed. The area is particularly vulnerable to flooding because of its flat topography and ongoing exposure to extreme weather events. The project will be designed to improve stormwater detention and channel conveyance systems. Four construction alternatives are under consideration, with cost projections ranging from $11 million to $24 million. Construction is expected to begin in 2025.

Officials in the coastal town of Crisfield, Maryland are planning a major flood mitigation project to protect the area from tidal waves and storm surges. With the support of $36 million in federal funding, the project’s objective will be to safeguard the area by constructing a tidal flood protection barrier and improving the existing internal drainage system. The area faces increased flooding risks due to rising sea levels and frequent extreme weather events so this effort will include elevating some roads and bulkheads, installing tide gates and restoring wetlands to serve as natural stormwater storage systems. Construction is scheduled for 2025.

 A $20.26 million reconstruction project to rebuild seawalls and revetments to protect a coastal roadway between North Hampton and Rye, New Hampshire, will soon be launched. The project will include the rebuilding of seawalls and revetments to shield the road from a storm event and direct water during flooding. The area currently suffers from rising sea levels and the increasing frequency of coastal storms. One of the objectives will be to ensure that the critical evacuation artery remains open during extreme weather-related events. Approximately 3.2 miles of vulnerable roadway will be reworked to strengthen the region’s overall resilience and reduce the need for massive post-storm clean-up efforts. The project is currently in the design and permitting phase, and construction contracts are likely to be awarded in 2025.

A $20.19 million floodplain restoration project in Mississippi will use natural infrastructure to restore 1,516 acres of wetlands and riparian forests. The objective will be to protect Interstate 40, Interstate 55, two freight rail lines and a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that converge in the floodplain of the Mississippi River. The project will also address long-term climate resilience overall for the area. With frequent Mississippi River flooding, the transit routes face increasing risks from floodwaters over 10 feet. Embankments and bridge footings are vulnerable to shear stress, wave action and scour. Construction is slated for 2025. 

There will be no scarcity of stabilization and repair projects over the next decade as it will require many years and an abundance of work to ensure that America’s infrastructure is restored and prepared to handle severe weather events that are likely to occur.