From coastal hubs like New York to inland giants like Dallas and Denver, America’s 28 most populous cities are slowly sinking—and in drought-prone areas, the pace is even more alarming. A new study published in Nature Cities reveals that land subsidence is happening across the country, largely driven by one overlooked factor: groundwater extraction.
As cities draw heavily on underground aquifers to supply growing populations, the ground above begins to compact and sink. In many drought-stricken areas—like Texas and parts of California—this process accelerates as water tables drop and soils collapse. The study found that in 80% of cases, the sinking correlated directly with groundwater removal, making drought zones especially vulnerable.
Houston, Fort Worth, and Dallas are sinking at some of the fastest rates, with certain sections dropping more than 10 millimeters per year. These seemingly minor shifts can add up quickly, especially over a decade, and lead to serious consequences, from cracked roads and tilting buildings to a higher risk of flooding. When low-lying areas sink unevenly, they can form “subsidence bowls” that trap stormwater and overwhelm infrastructure.
What makes this even more dangerous is how unevenly the ground can settle, even within the same city. LaGuardia Airport, for example, is sinking far faster than most of New York City. Scientists warn that this kind of variation can quietly compromise foundations, roads, and pipelines long before visible damage occurs.
Advanced satellite radar (InSAR) was used to detect these changes with millimeter-level precision, and it revealed a sobering truth: nearly 30,000 buildings in these major cities are already in areas of concern. In drought-prone states where aquifers are under constant strain, experts say now is the time to act before the damage becomes irreversible.
