The near failure of a century-old dam in Minnesota has drawn renewed attention to the vulnerability of the US’s ageing water infrastructure. Thousands of dams are in poor condition, and many were designed based on estimates of extreme rain that may now be outdated as climate change drives stronger precipitation in some parts of the country.

“The state of the infrastructure is such that it’s not able to resist even minor events in many cases,” says Upmanu Lall at Arizona State University.

Of the country’s more…

Summary:
The near failure of the century-old Rapidan Dam in Minnesota has spotlighted the critical state of the United States’ ageing water infrastructure. Many dams across the country are in poor condition and were designed with outdated estimates of extreme rainfall, which may no longer be adequate due to the increasing intensity of precipitation driven by climate change. Upmanu Lall from Arizona State University highlights that the current state of infrastructure is often insufficient to withstand even minor weather events. This situation underscores the urgent need for updates and reinforcements to ensure safety and resilience.