Every four years, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) delivers a national infrastructure report card. While roads and bridges often steal the spotlight, the real red flags are buried in the systems we depend on daily: dams, drinking water, and wastewater.
Drinking Water: A Network in Decay
The U.S. is losing billions of gallons of clean, treated water every day due to old, leaky pipes. Many of these systems are over 100 years old, and lead service lines still exist in thousands of communities. Despite recent federal funding boosts, ASCE warns that we’re nowhere near closing the gap between investment and need.
Wastewater: Outdated and Overwhelmed
Across the country, wastewater treatment plants are aging and under pressure. Equipment failures, combined sewer overflows, and insufficient capacity during storms pose serious risks to public health and the environment. ASCE gives the wastewater sector a near-failing grade and highlights how deferred maintenance is setting the stage for disaster.
Dams: High Risk, Low Support
Over 15,000 dams are considered high-hazard potential, and many are well past their intended life span. Structural deficiencies and the lack of a coordinated national funding program for repairs put thousands of communities at risk. ASCE’s report calls out the urgent need for modernization and consistent inspections. Learn more
