"Experts Sound Alarm: 28 Major US Cities Sinking – Is Yours at Risk?"

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Major U.S. Cities Sinking Due to Groundwater Extraction and Other Factors

Scientists have identified 28 major U.S. cities, home to 34 million people, that are sinking due to groundwater extraction and other environmental pressures. The study, led by Columbia University, highlights that while coastal cities face risks from rising sea levels, inland cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston are sinking even faster.

Key Findings:

• Houston is the fastest-sinking city, with 40% of its area dropping over 0.2 inches annually. Some areas sink up to 2 inches per year.
• Dallas and Fort Worth follow closely, sinking at 0.16 and 0.2 inches per year, respectively.
• Other affected cities include New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., with 60% of the impacted population concentrated in eight cities: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Philadelphia, San Antonio, and Dallas.

Houston faces severe flooding, exacerbated by rapid land subsidence. (Image: Houston during Hurricane Harvey, 2017)

Causes of Subsidence:
The primary driver is groundwater extraction for drinking water and industrial use. When underground aquifers are drained, the soil compacts, causing the land to sink. In Texas, oil and gas extraction