40 Examples of Water Infrastructure

John Spacey, updated on March 11, 2024

Water infrastructure is a broad term for systems of water supply, treatment, storage, water resource management, flood prevention and hydropower. The term also includes water based transportation systems such as canals. The following are common types of water infrastructure.

Aqueducts	Canals
Cisterns	Coastal erosion control structures
Dams	Desalination plants
Fire hydrants	Flood barriers
Flood gates	Flood monitoring and warning systems
Flood walls	Floodgates
Hydroelectric power plants	Irrigation systems
Levees	Pipelines
Pump stations	Rain gardens
Rainwater harvesting infrastructure	Reservoirs
Retention ponds	River embankments
Seawalls	Sewer lines
Spillways	Storm drains
Tide gates	Wastewater plants
Water filters	Water intakes
Water mains – primary underground water pipes	Water metering infrastructure
Water outlets	Water pipes
Water pumps	Water tanks
Water testing facilities	Water towers
Water treatment plants	Wells

Aqueducts and cisterns are ancient types of water infrastructure that transport and store water.

Blue space such as canals or a city pond could be viewed as social infrastructure as a type of transportation and public space.

Coastal infrastructure is another type of water related infrastructure that includes ports, harbors, marinas, jetties, docks, boat launches, breakwaters, sea walls, tsunami walls and other facilities for transportation, coastal preservation and disaster prevention.

Summary

Water infrastructure includes systems and facilities for capturing, treating and distributing water for drinking, irrigation, industrial processes and natural ecosystems. It also includes wastewater treatment and disaster resilience infrastructure related to floods, droughts, shortages, tsunami and other disasters. Water infrastructure may also address problems such as coastal erosion or desertification.