Files

CyberDodo and ground water tables (1-53)

Are ground water tables renewable? 2/2

Two types of ground water tables can be identified, those that are refilled when it rains and those that were filled a very long time ago and are not renewed.

1. Renewable water tables
As indicated on the first page, they are at risk, and not just due to pollution. Another major danger is the increasing pumping of water, which uses up most of it. As the population does not stop growing, and it has its needs, the unceasing collection of water does not even allow the water tables to fill, with the risk of drying out.

Not forgetting another danger linked to the reduced volume, the waters coming from the surface are increasingly polluted, they proportionally contaminate the reservoir more easily and can make the ground water table unfit for human consumption.

Finally, agriculture is also a threat at two levels. This has to do with exponential irrigation needs which make pumping multiply but also the use of a multitude of chemical products (like pesticides) which rain water will carry into underground reservoirs.

2. Fossile water
The situation of water tables referred to as ‘fossiles' is even more serious, as they are faced with all the problems mentioned above, as well as the fact that they are not filled again.

Each litre that is drawn is one litre less!

Countries which should find alternatives more or less soon for their fresh water supply are situated in various parts of the globe, such as Australia or Siberia, the Arabic peninsula or even the centre of the United States.

Fresh water, a resource that is not renewable

What does the future hold for us?

It is indeed impossible to foresee with certainty what is going to happen in the decades to come, however, some serious trends are emerging, linked notably to overpopulation, pollution and global warming.

Numerous experts fear that conflicts may break out between neighbouring countries for the control of water, a situation which has more or less tended to take place in the Near East. But Asia, South America and Africa are not immune to tensions between the states in relation to fresh water supply.

Agriculture is another major issue, because it is no longer possible to ‘grow whatever you want wherever you want' by using chemical fertilisers on the one hand and on the other hand removing cubic metres upon cubic metres of water from ground water tables which are increasingly under pressure. Only rational agriculture using plants adapted to local climatic conditions is compatible with the sustainable management of water resources.

With regard to global warming, it represents a global challenge, its impact on fresh water reserves can become one of the main threats to the survival of the human species.

Examples: rainful in certain regions could reduce dramatically, bringing in a reduction of volume of water courses, lakes and ground water tables, with the terrible consequences that one can anticipate; sea levels could rise and contaminate numerous ground water tables, making them unfit for human consumption.

It is therefore fundamental to preserve fresh water as of today, for future generations, but also for us!

Chat CyberDodo