27 U.S. stormwater disasters in 2023 cost $88 billion, Advanced Drainage Solutions reports on World Water Day

(UI) – Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a provider of water management solutions in the stormwater and wastewater industries, is using this year’s World Water Day (March 22) to emphasize the need for effective stormwater management and the importance of properly managing the entire lifecycle of a raindrop.

In 2023, there were 27 stormwater-related natural disasters in the U.S. that each cost over $1 billion. These large-scale disasters, which include severe storms, tropical cyclones, atmospheric rivers, flooding, droughts and winter storms, collectively cost a staggering $88 billion. By comparison, if we look back 20 years, there were just six of these types of events in 2003.

“World Water Day is a call to action to build and maintain the infrastructure needed to develop resilient communities, properly managing stormwater throughout the lifecycle of a raindrop from the moment it hits the ground until it is released back into the ecosystem,” said ADS President and CEO Scott Barbour. “It is increasingly clear that the stormwater infrastructure in place today is insufficient to address current climate trends, creating a real problem for many communities.”

According to an ADS survey conducted by The Harris Poll in late 2023, more than half of the respondents (51%) are concerned about the current infrastructure in place to manage stormwater within their communities.

The survey also found that many U.S. adults believe the impact of climate change is outpacing current stormwater management practices. Additionally, 43% of respondents expressed concern that stormwater management in their area is not keeping up with climate changes, emphasizing the need for stronger and more sustainable water management practices.

“ADS is actively addressing these concerns by developing solutions that reduce the economic disruptions and environmental damage from significant stormwater events,” continued Barbour.

“We are currently building our new ADS Engineering and Technology Center, which will be the world’s most advanced stormwater engineering, research and development facility. When finished, the facility will uniquely position ADS to continue to offer the cutting-edge stormwater solutions that will enable communities to successfully recover from major storm events.”

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