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Oregon infrastructure in 2019 is 鈥渕ediocre鈥� and in need of attention, according to a recent report by the American Society of Civil Engineers‘ state chapter. Oregon came up short in wastewater, energy, and dams and levees categories.

The report attributed the wastewater struggles to aging systems and an increase in population. State wastewater infrastructure, much of which will soon need to be replaced or rehabilitated, wasn’t designed to handle the number of people that now reside in Oregon, according to ASCE. The systems are on the brink of failure, and the state will have to spend $5 billion on improvements, the group added.

Concern for Oregon’s deficiencies is exacerbated by the possibility of a sizable earthquake, which experts say could hit the Northwest within the next 50 years. ASCE’s report found that Oregon’s dams and levees have not received sufficient funding or upkeep to endure such a disaster.

More than 70 percent of the state’s dams will be a half-century old within the next five years, and nearly a third of its levees were rated 鈥渦nacceptable鈥� by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Additionally, the state’s petroleum transmission and storage are aging and in poor condition, according to ASCE, and would become unusable in the event of a major earthquake.

ASCE’s main suggestions for improving Oregon’s grade centered on improving infrastructure to withstand such seismic events. The report concluded that improving bridges, dams, levees and drinking and wastewater systems with increased funding and planning is the most important task for the state to consider.

While funding for Oregon bridges increased in 2017 and the category earned a 鈥淐鈥� in the report, more than half of the state’s bridges are now considered structurally deficient, and Oregon has fewer bridges in 鈥済ood鈥� condition than any other western state, according to ASCE.

The state scored better in transportation infrastructure. Bridges, roads and rails were the most successful categories, with praise going to legislation that increased funding in the latter two categories.

With 74,000 total miles of road (2 percent of the country’s total) and a rising population, Oregon has committed more than $5 billion of state money to improve road quality and tackle traffic increases between 2017 and 2027. With 90 percent of pavement in 鈥渇air鈥� to 鈥済ood鈥� condition, the state has also surpassed the mark in roadway quality goals.

While ASCE found many avenues in which Oregon might seek improvements, the state’s grade of C- is higher than the United States as a whole, which earned a D+ score. The state is also on par with its neighbors, earning the same score as California and Idaho, and falling only slightly behind Washington state and Nevada, each of which earned a C grade. Of the states for which report cards have been made, not one had a grade higher than a C.