Rising Coastal Groundwater as a Result of Sea‐Level Rise Will Influence Contaminated Coastal Sites and Underground Infrastructure

Abstract Sea‐level rise (SLR) will cause coastal groundwater to in many urban environments. Inundation of contaminated soils by (GWR) alter the physical, biological, and geochemical conditions that influence fate transport existing contaminants. These transformed products can be more toxic and/or mobile under future driven SLR GWR. We reviewed vulnerability sites GWR a US national database case comparison with San Francisco Bay region estimate risk rising human ecosystem health. The results show 326 Superfund program may vulnerable changes depth or flow direction as result SLR, representing 18.1 million hectares land. In Area, we found is predicted impact twice much land area inundation from 5,282 additional state‐managed contamination 1.0 m scenario. Increases only few centimeters elevation mobilize soil contaminants, directions heterogeneous environment underground pipes utility trenches, new exposure pathways. Pumping for flood protection elevate saltwater interface, changing salinity mobilizing metals soil. Socially communities are disproportionately exposed this at both scale regional Area.