Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025, Proposed in June, Aims to Address Rising Coastal Water Tables: Earmarks $ for USGS Study

       U.S. Reps. Kevin Mullin, a California Democrat, and Andrew Garbarino, a New York Republican, proposed the Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025 in June 2025. The goal is to address rising groundwater tables along coastal regions where they are causing problems, including drinking water quality concerns, wastewater issues like sewage overflows, damage to infrastructure, and flooding. The proposed legislation calls for setting aside $5 million over the next year for the U.S. Geological Survey to study and map groundwater rise nationally through 2100 and identify priority areas that are at increased risk of flooding.

     According to San Francisco’s KQED, there will likely be obstacles from the GOP and the Trump administration, which has turned away from science, especially if it is related in any way to climate change. They also note the need for better data and mitigation strategies:

“Passing the legislation is likely to be difficult, Mullin acknowledged, saying that the Trump administration is ignoring science and partly defunding agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that play a pivotal role in tracking warming temperatures.”

“Scientists use an uneven network of wells dug into a complex underground coastal geography to gauge the depth of the water table, which makes forecasting groundwater rise difficult. A mix of urban and rural coastal zones complicates that work.”

“USGS scientists would also need to recommend mitigation strategies for communities and create a public-facing website displaying their maps. Within three years, the agency would need to submit a report of its findings to Congress.”

“Since the 1880s, the Pacific Ocean has risen by approximately 8 inches along the West Coast. However, state scientists predict more than a foot of bay rise by 2050…”

     Among the issues of concern are underground sewage treatment systems and former industrial sites. The rising groundwater could intersect and acquire contaminants from these sites. Saltwater intrusion into groundwater drinking water sources is a major concern on both coasts.

     The act seeks to develop an improved database of groundwater level changes that can be accessed by urban planners, local, and regional governments. Some of the details of the proposed legislation are given below.

 

  

 

References:

 

US lawmakers issue warning about concerning phenomenon that's almost entirely 'hidden from plain sight': 'We can't afford to wait'. Mike Taylor. The Cool Down. August 10, 2025. US lawmakers issue warning about concerning phenomenon that's almost entirely 'hidden from plain sight': 'We can't afford to wait'

H.R.4144 - Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025. 119th Congress (2025-2026). Congress.gov. H.R.4144 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Lawmakers Push to Map Groundwater Before It Swamps America’s Infrastructure. Ezra David Romero. KQED. July 29, 2025. Lawmakers Push to Map Groundwater Before It Swamps America’s Infrastructure | KQED