28 Major U.S. Cities Are Sinking Up to 5 Inches a Year, Primarily Due to Groundwater Extraction for Human Use

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 10/05/2025 at 07:35

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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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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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Lukas Douglas

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10/05/2025 08:00

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28 Major U.S. Cities Are Sinking Up to 5 Inches a Year, Primarily Due to Groundwater Extraction for Human Use

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

The Main Cause: Extraction Of Groundwater

Houston Leads The List Of High-Risk Cities

Additional Factors Aggravate The Problem

Uneven Soil Movement Affects Urban Structures

Proposed Solutions: Adaptation And Restoration

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28 Major U.S. Cities Are Sinking Up to 5 Inches a Year, Primarily Due to Groundwater Extraction for Human Use

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

The Main Cause: Extraction Of Groundwater

Houston Leads The List Of High-Risk Cities

Additional Factors Aggravate The Problem

Uneven Soil Movement Affects Urban Structures

Proposed Solutions: Adaptation And Restoration

A village with 115 inhabitants wants new residents: it offers a house, a job, up to 44 thousand euros in benefits, almost free rent, an annual grant of 8 thousand euros for 3 years, and a 20 thousand euro incentive for businesses in the mountains of Italy.

Seven world powers including the US, China, and Russia are spending €22 billion on a reactor in the south of France that aims to confine plasma at 150 million degrees Celsius, ten times the temperature of the Sun’s core, using a magnetic field capable of lifting an entire aircraft carrier.

With a wingspan of 152 meters, 76 tires, and a capacity to carry 1,270 tons, the Boeing Pelican was the giant “flying ship” that promised to cross oceans close to the water on an invisible air cushion beneath its wings.

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After 16 years and almost 600 prototypes, a Chinese inventor unveils the world’s smallest and cheapest manned jet, at just 3.80 meters long and costing US$7.2 thousand in materials.

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