A civil engineering group says frequent weather disasters are straining Kentucky’s water and wastewater systems, along with its roads and bridges.
The American Society of Civil Engineers gives Kentucky a C-minus in its 2026 Infrastructure Report Card, the same grade the state received on the last report in 2019.
In the Tuesday report, the group cites multiple severe flooding, tornadoes and winter storm events as challenges to maintaining essential services.
The state has nearly $8 billion in drinking water system needs over the next two decades. More than a quarter of Kentucky’s treated water is lost or unbilled, which the engineering group says indicates inefficiency.
More than $6 billion in wastewater system needs are compounded by the frequency of storms and the age of sewer infrastructure. Additionally, 40% of sewer lines are more than 50 years old.
The society gave Kentucky’s bridges a C grade in its 2026 report. Two-thirds are in fair condition, meaning the need for rehabilitation and replacement is growing.
The report gives Kentucky’s highways a C-minus, reflecting that a third of the state’s roads are in poor or mediocre condition, increasing costs for drivers.
The state's roadway fatalities per vehicle miles traveled is above the national average, the report notes.
The best category? Energy, to which the report gives a B-plus.
