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Page added on March 17, 2016
The future of the world’s groundwater
As California grinds into what is likely to be a fifth drought year, awareness of the importance – and poor management – of California’s groundwater is growing. For complex historical and political reasons, the state has acted as though groundwater is separate and isolated from water in our rivers, streams, and reservoirs even though all water scientists know they are actually often tightly connected and inter-related. And what is true in California is true around the world; groundwater is mismanaged, badly regulated, and grossly overdrafted in China, India, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
When the world’s population and water demands were low, this didn’t matter. But those days are long over. Even without a drought, Californians pump out around 500 billion gallons of groundwater annually that is never replaced. During the drought, that has exploded to 2 trillion gallons per year, going to those with the biggest pumps and deepest pockets, and leaving shallower wells in poorer communities sucking air and robbing future generations. And groundwater levels around the world are similarly falling.
This cannot, and should not, continue.
The solution is both extremely simple and politically complex. The simple answer is to measure, monitor, and regulate all groundwater use within sustainable limits so overpumping in dry years is balanced by recharge and refilling of aquifers in wet years. Politically, it means accelerating and strengthening groundwater laws, management, and protections. We can only live beyond our means for so long, before suffering the increasingly severe consequences.
Peter H. Gleick, president, Pacific Institute
13 Comments on "The future of the world’s groundwater"
penury on Thu, 17th Mar 2016 6:24 pm
The solution is both stupid and impossible. 7.5 billion people with at least 12 billion different opinions you better pack a lunch for those meetings. Unilateral action by nations could create hostilities. (war)
makati1 on Thu, 17th Mar 2016 7:26 pm
penury, the dreamers always have a simple solution to complex problems and they never take into account ALL of the ramifications or obstacles, do they? ^_^
Go Speed Racer on Thu, 17th Mar 2016 8:46 pm
If there is a shortage of groundwater, we can water the crops with Gatorade.
The electrolytes should act like a fertilizer.
Go Speed Racer on Thu, 17th Mar 2016 8:48 pm
This proves it, problem solved.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CNlcNWHUsAAVZfU.jpg:large
Pennsyguy on Thu, 17th Mar 2016 9:32 pm
It’s funny in a sardonic sort of way: so many are frightened by terrorists, illegal immigrants, mighty North Korea or unarmed young black men when things like lack of water, depleted top soil or missing bees may help to do us in. Can nature laugh?
twocats on Thu, 17th Mar 2016 11:43 pm
The solution is both extremely simple and politically complex. [article]
How much agricultural productivity would be lost with these simple solutions and how many showers would I get per week?
dry years versus wet years? what’s the ratio: 10:1? soon to be 15:1? spoken like a guy who hasn’t lived in California in a long time.
Apneaman on Fri, 18th Mar 2016 8:41 am
Mekong River diverted into Thailand’s waterways, worrying drought-stricken neighbours like Vietnam
“Things are so bad at the Ubolrat dam in northern Thailand that they are about to dip into the so-called “dead storage”.
That is the dregs of a reservoir that sit lower than the bottom of the pumps — in this case the last 1 per cent.”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-18/mekong-river-thailand-diverts-worries-neighbours/7256678
Apneaman on Fri, 18th Mar 2016 9:23 pm
Warmer Winter Brings Forest-Threatening Beetles North
“The beetles, which can kill thousands of trees in epidemic attacks, had never been found beyond the pitch pine forests of the American South, because the winters were too cold.
But they have migrated to New Jersey, where they have destroyed more than 30,000 acres of forest since 2002. And the warmer winters have now beckoned them to New England.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/22/science/southern-pine-beetles-new-england-forests.html?_r=0
Apneaman on Fri, 18th Mar 2016 9:24 pm
NOAA: 10th Record Month in A Row. Temperature Off the Charts
http://blogs.agu.org/wildwildscience/2016/03/17/noaa-10th-record-month-in-a-row-temperature-off-the-charts/
makati1 on Fri, 18th Mar 2016 9:30 pm
Ap, most here cannot begin to understand what a few degrees warmer means for them. Tropical diseases will move north. Damaging insects will move into their crops. Fungus, and other blights will invade their crops and trees. Etc. It will be more than weather that gets worse. It will be everything.
Apneaman on Fri, 18th Mar 2016 9:44 pm
This guy, Hambone, is my favourite Texan.
Mainstream Media Sounding More Like Guy McPherson as Global Warming Heads Into Overdrive
“In this rant, I tip my eco-Nazi hat to Associated Press, for sounding more and more like Guy McPherson as it spells out what is rolling out on this planet as global warming heads into overdrive. Here is a link to the excellent story about February’s record hot temperatures:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd4pJBHoKqI
Apneaman on Fri, 18th Mar 2016 9:58 pm
Dry winter leaves Pakistan’s farmers looking for work in town
“An unusually warm and nearly dry Pakistan winter, with rainfall just a third of normal, has ruined crops and made life increasingly hard for the country’s small-scale farmers, experts say.
Many farmers say they are struggling to adapt to increasingly unreliable weather, and in many cases have had to migrate to cities and towns to find jobs to help them survive.
“I feel really unable to keep pace with weather patterns that are shifting so rapidly,” said Khan, who comes from Gujar Khan, a village about 55 kilometres (35 miles) from the capital.”
http://news.trust.org/item/20160318113206-l2x9c/
Kenz300 on Sat, 19th Mar 2016 8:02 am
Too many people……….create too much pollution and demand too many resources….
China made great progress in moving its people out of poverty…….one reason was slowing population growth…..
If you can not provide for yourself you can not provide for a child.
CLIMATE CHANGE, declining fish stocks, droughts, floods, air, water and land pollution, poverty, water and food shortages all stem from the worlds worst environmental problem……. OVER POPULATION.
Yet the world adds 80 million more mouths to feed, clothe, house and provide energy and water for every year… this is unsustainable… and is a big part of the Climate Change problem
Birth Control Permanent Methods: Learn About Effectiveness
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/birth_control_permanent_methods/article_em.htm