Cities Go Green: Smart Stormwater Takes the Lead

Arcadis and Advanced Drainage Systems drive a smart, sustainable rethink of U.S. stormwater management

16 Oct 2025

Across the United States, a quiet revolution is reshaping how cities handle stormwater. As climate risks intensify and infrastructure ages, engineering and environmental firms are racing to modernize urban drainage through smarter, greener design.

Advanced Drainage Systems recently expanded its reach by acquiring a regional manufacturer, strengthening its role in sustainable water management. Meanwhile, Arcadis is working with utilities and city governments to fuse design, digital tools, and asset management into next-generation green infrastructure. Analysts say the industry is shifting toward companies that can deliver complete, integrated solutions rather than isolated products.

This evolution mirrors a national policy shift toward nature-based infrastructure. While the Environmental Protection Agency has yet to formalize a “2035 Green Infrastructure Strategic Agenda,” experts see clear signals from Washington. Federal guidance increasingly favors rain gardens, bioswales, and permeable pavements as long-term resilience tools. “We’re at a tipping point,” said a senior analyst at Bluefield Research. “Cities and investors want firms that can merge engineering precision with ecological thinking.”

Municipalities are demanding adaptive systems that go far beyond concrete pipes and culverts. Modern projects pair physical infrastructure with digital intelligence, using sensors, predictive models, and modular designs to create living networks that respond to changing weather and population patterns. “Cities don’t want static systems anymore,” said an Arcadis project director. “They want infrastructure that learns.”

Investment is following suit. Bluefield Research projects U.S. stormwater spending could climb past $25 billion annually by 2030, fueled by federal resilience funds and local initiatives. Still, experts warn that progress will hinge on addressing workforce shortages and securing long-term maintenance budgets, issues that persist across the nation’s infrastructure sectors.

Even so, momentum is building. With technology meeting ecology and collaboration bridging public and private sectors, stormwater management is stepping into a defining decade. The challenge ahead is not just to control the water but to design cities resilient enough to thrive with it.