Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025

The Groundwater Rise and Infrastructure Preparedness Act of 2025 would require the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to (1) map future groundwater rise for coastal areas of the continental United States with decadal projections through 2100, including associated changes in flooding risk and saltwater intrusion, and (2) initiate a two-phase study (in coordination with other federal agencies and the National Academies) on how groundwater rise could affect infrastructure and public health. The bill also directs the creation of a public website to share the maps and related planning information, and it authorizes $5 million for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to support the mapping efforts. A subsequent impact study would assess infrastructure exposure (Phase I) and public health implications (Phase II), with a final report due to Congress within three years after the study begins. The bill frames groundwater rise as a result of sea-level changes and notes that coastal groundwater responses vary by region, presenting risks such as flooding, soil liquefaction, damage to underground infrastructure, drinking-water contamination, and sewer system harm. In short, the bill aims to build national maps and forecasts of groundwater rise along U.S. coasts, identify high-risk areas, improve research capabilities, and fund and conduct a rigorous, National Academies-led study of infrastructure and health impacts to inform federal and congressional action.