HILLIARD, Ohio–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE: WMS) (“ADS” or the “Company”), a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and onsite septic wastewater industries, today announced the results of its 2024 survey on stormwater management. The study conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of ADS found that more Americans are concerned about their community’s infrastructure for managing stormwater this year than last (60% vs. 51%), following a devastating hurricane season that highlighted the vulnerabilities of our outdated stormwater infrastructure.

The survey results come on the heels of the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) announcing that as of November 1, the United States experienced 24 confirmed weather-related disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion, 17 of which were severe storms. There was also an unprecedented 92 flash flood emergencies issued by the National Weather Service in 2024.

“As storms increase in frequency and intensity, causing devastating flooding damage in many communities, it’s understandable that more Americans are concerned about the infrastructure in place to manage stormwater,” said ADS President and CEO Scott Barbour. “We are focused on developing innovative products that enable increased community resilience, reducing their vulnerability with stormwater infrastructure designed to handle the increased flooding caused by stronger and more frequent storms.”

Key findings from the survey include:

• 64% of Americans say stormwater has a negative impact on their community – with 12% indicating it has a major negative impact.
  • Among those who say stormwater has negatively impacted their community, 64% say it comes in the form of flooded streets and 45% report damaged homes and/or businesses.
• 60% of Americans report concern over their community’s stormwater management infrastructure, a notable 9 percentage point increase from last year (51%).
• Over half (52%) of Americans worry about flooding in/around their home.
• Environmental impact remains a priority for most Americans, with 60% expressing concern about how stormwater is managed to ensure sustainability and stewardship—a small increase from 58% last year.
  • Key considerations include transportation efficiency, energy usage, and water reuse.
• 57% of Americans believe local officials/state regulatory bodies prioritize stormwater management in their community.
  • However, over half (52%) do not know if their community has a water resource management plan.

As part of the company’s commitment to developing solutions that help reduce damage from significant storm events, ADS recently unveiled the largest and most advanced stormwater engineering facility in the world. Located near the company’s headquarters in Hilliard, Ohio, the ADS Engineering and Technology Center focuses on product engineering, materials science—including recycled plastics—and manufacturing technologies to develop advanced stormwater solutions that manage water and protect communities.

Survey Method
The 2024 survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Advanced Drainage Systems from November 14-18, 2024, among 2,092 adults ages 18 and older and the 2023 survey was conducted from November 14-16, 2023, among 2,061 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For both studies, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Heather Schreiber 614-216-3757.