In a move that could reshape how we manage and value groundwater across the West, California has officially recognized aquifers as “natural infrastructure.” It might sound like a small semantic shift, but in practice, this designation has powerful implications—for both water security and climate adaptation.
Let’s break it down: what this means, why it matters, and how it opens the door to smarter, more sustainable water management.
From Pipes to Porous Earth: A Broader View of Infrastructure
Traditionally, when we think of infrastructure, we picture roads, dams, pipelines, and treatment plants—the visible, human-built stuff. But aquifers—the underground layers of rock and sediment that store water—have long played an invisible yet critical role in keeping California hydrated, especially during droughts.
Now, by calling aquifers “infrastructure,” the state is saying these natural systems are just as vital as canals and reservoirs—and should be maintained, protected, and even funded accordingly.
This shift isn’t just about language. It’s about unlocking public dollars and policy support to treat aquifer recharge and groundwater sustainability as proactive investments rather than reactive crisis management.
Why This Matters: Natural Infrastructure Means Real Funding
By officially designating aquifers as infrastructure, local agencies and nonprofits can now access infrastructure funding for projects like floodplain restoration and managed aquifer recharge (MAR). These are projects that allow water—especially during wet years—to seep back into underground basins rather than being lost to runoff or the ocean.
That’s a game-changer. In recent decades, groundwater basins across California have been severely overdrafted, especially in agricultural regions like the San Joaquin Valley. Restoring them takes more than good intentions—it takes capital, coordination, and vision.
With this new law, California is creating policy alignment between water resilience and climate resilience. After all, storing water underground is more energy-efficient, less evaporative, and more resilient than building new above-ground storage in a warming climate.
Climate Extremes Require Natural Buffers
As weather whiplash becomes the new normal—swinging between floods and droughts—our ability to capture, store, and reuse water flexibly becomes essential.
Aquifers are the natural shock absorbers of California’s water system. They hold water in the wet years that we desperately need in dry years. Recognizing their value isn’t just an environmental win—it’s a practical, systems-thinking approach to statewide water management.
What Happens Next?
This law opens the door for more integrated planning across agencies, watersheds, and communities. It’s a step toward treating water as a cycle, not a commodity—and groundwater as a resource that deserves stewardship, not exploitation.
To be clear: this doesn’t mean groundwater problems are solved. Overdraft, contamination, and equity concerns remain. But by lifting aquifers into the infrastructure conversation, we’ve taken an important step toward long-term sustainability.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes, the most impactful policies aren’t flashy. They’re the ones that reframe old problems in new ways, opening up better paths forward. Recognizing aquifers as natural infrastructure may sound technical—but in a state where groundwater supplies up to 60% of water during drought years, it’s a long-overdue acknowledgment of reality.
If California can treat the ground beneath our feet as part of our water future—not just our past—we may just stay one step ahead of the next crisis.
Want to learn how these policy changes could impact your region or project? Reach out to BCG to learn more and explore solutions tailored to your groundwater challenges.
