Water-related hazards and infrastructure failures: insights from a global assessment of risk mitigation practices

The increasing frequency and intensity of water-related hazards pose growing threats to infrastructure systems worldwide. These events often occur as compounded or consecutive hazards, amplifying the impacts and challenging existing disaster risk management (DRM). Despite progress in both structural and non-structural mitigation measures, extreme hydrologic events continue to cause severe economic, social, and environmental damage due to infrastructure failures.

Here we present the results of an international initiative aimed at identifying critical gaps in the management of water-related hazards affecting infrastructures. Specifically, we investigate the interconnections among different hazard types and assess the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. By systematically mapping past water-related hazard events and their impacts from minor impairments to complete structural failures, we assess the presence and performance of both structural (e.g., flood barriers, resilient designs) and non-structural (e.g., early warning systems, land-use planning) measures.

Drawing on case studies, we seek to determine whether successful risk mitigation practices can be effectively transferred across different geographical and socio-economic contexts. We aim to contribute to a more integrated and adaptive approach for enhancing infrastructure resilience, combining engineering solutions, governance strategies, community engagement, and climate adaptation measures.