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Study Reveals That The Ground In 28 Major US Cities Is Sinking, With Houston Leading The List And Millions Of People Already Being Impacted By Structural And Flooding Risks
A study published in the journal Nature Cities has revealed an invisible threat advancing beneath the feet of millions of Americans: 28 of the cities in the United States are sinking.
In some regions, such as Houston, Texas, subsidence is already reaching 5 centimeters per year, jeopardizing the safety of infrastructure and the lives of millions of residents.
The Main Cause: Extraction Of Groundwater
According to the research, 80% of cases of subsidence are directly linked to excessive groundwater extraction.
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The pressure to meet urban and industrial consumption has led to the continuous exploration of aquifers. As reservoirs are depleted, the ground loses support and begins to give way, slowly but steadily.
This phenomenon is already affecting 34 million people in the studied urban areas. The impact is not immediate or always visible, but over the years, the accumulated effects become serious.
Houston Leads The List Of High-Risk Cities
Among all the cities analyzed, Houston is the most affected. About 42% of the city’s urban area is sinking more than 5 millimeters per year.
In 12% of the city, this sinking exceeds 10 millimeters annually. In certain areas, the loss reaches 5 centimeters in height per year.
This ground subsidence significantly increases the risk of flooding, especially in the context of heavy rainfall and hurricanes, events that are common in the region.
Additional Factors Aggravate The Problem
Although water extraction is the main cause, it is not the only one. The excessive weight of buildings and constructions, especially in areas with soft soil, contributes to instability. Additionally, oil and gas extraction, common in regions like Texas, also influences soil compaction. Industrial and urban activities, in general, alter geological balance and exacerbate the problem.
Uneven Soil Movement Affects Urban Structures
In cities like San Jose, Memphis, and Jacksonville, the ground is not only sinking: it is moving unevenly. Some areas are sinking, while others remain the same or even rise. This differential movement imposes stress on structures like buildings, pipelines, and roads.
This type of damage often goes unnoticed for years, until signs become visible or the damage is already significant. In San Antonio, for example, one in every 45 buildings is at high risk for structural damage due to this movement.
Although the study’s focus is on the United States, the phenomenon is global. California’s Central Valley has already sunk 8.5 meters between 1926 and 1970 due to groundwater extraction. In Mexico City, certain areas continue to sink by up to 50 centimeters per year.
Proposed Solutions: Adaptation And Restoration
The study also presents possible solutions. One of them is the construction of urban wetlands, which help retain rainwater and reduce pressure on aquifers. Another is the active recharge of aquifers, using technologies to return some of the water to the underground.
Additionally, researchers suggest the adoption of resilient infrastructure capable of adapting to ground deformations. They also recommend urban policies that limit expansion in unstable areas.
The 28 identified cities, in order of the most rapid terrain changes, include Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Denver, Seattle, Columbus, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Detroit, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Washington, Nashville, San Francisco, Portland, San Diego, Philadelphia, Austin, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, El Paso, Boston, Los Angeles, Memphis, San Jose, and Jacksonville.
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