Sometimes toward the end of last year, my family moved to a new neighborhood. It was in many respect better than where we lived before. However, not without it own challenges and issues of concern (not that I was expecting it to be devoid of such anyway).
Our new neighborhood is a fast developing area replete with many new building and construction springing up here and there which is fine as it meant better life for the owners. However, the issue of concern that started me thinking lately in the light of a recent video I saw concerning groundwater shortage, is the rate at which every house drill borehole for water.
Now, I understand the predicament of these people. They have no other way to access water as the idea of a central water supply by the government is long dead so that individual have to fend for themselves where the issue of water supply is concerned.
To be sure, water is indispensable to life. Think about it for a moment, what will your day look like without access to water? You know how dreary and weary such a day will look like. I remember my days in college when we have to search the neighborhood wells for water that is good enough to take our bath before going for classes. Oh! It was tough. Yet, there are many communities that goes through this pain every single day because they have no easy access to potable water.
Facts about water on the earth's surface
It is a common knowledge that 75 % of the earth's surface is covered with water. Surely, there is no shortage of water on earth. The earth can boast of ocean, sea, river and lake. The problem is, only a relatively small 3 % of the earth's water is available as freshwater and therefore drinkable. In fact, 69 % of freshwater is not accessible for drinking being in form of ice caps and glaciers in the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet. That leave us with a meagre 31 % of the 3 % ! This means less than 1 % of the available water on earth are accessible for drinking!
Forms of Freshwater
Freshwater exist basically in two forms viz: surface water in the form of rivers, streams, lake and as groundwater beneath us. Groundwater is the form in which freshwater is stored. And in the light of the already stated fact, it is essential that we use it judiciously.
Groundwater are stored in aquifers some of which are shallow while others are deep. Shallow aquifers helps to constantly recharge surface water such as rivers and lake apart from the cyclic evaporation and precipitation of water as rain and snow which are seasonal. Rain water seeps into the ground in like manner and are stored in shallow aquifers.
It is easy to see from the foregoing that groundwater is essential not only to meet our indispensable need for potable water but is vital for food production given its usage in agriculture for the purpose of irrigation.
Fears about groundwater depletion
Exploitation of groundwater through indiscriminate borehole or well drilling, a practice that has become a commonplace in some communities such as my new neighborhood, is one of the major ways that shallow aquifers are depleted.
Depletion of shallow groundwater has several implications for our world, some of which are not so obvious to the casual observer who sees abundance of surface water everywhere and think there is no problem.
One of the problems that come to fore when shallow aquifers are depleted is the fact that we will need to access potable water only by drilling a thousand or more feet below to reach the deep aquifers which are geological formation resulting from geological changes millions of years ago, at a cost that might make water another commodity to be rationed apart from the fact that these aquifers are not renewable.
It is important also to realize that drilling down for deep aquifers may result in salt contamination. A situation that result when saline water mixes with freshwater necessitating extra cost to make the water fit for drinking.
In addition to the above unsavory effects, depletion of groundwater will result in what has been called sinkholes that ultimately leading to collapse of building and homes with grave consequences for victims, a fact some dwellers of Mexico city can readily attest to because they've been there experientially.
Another dismal consequence of groundwater depletion is the shrinking of surface water and its attendant negative effects on fish, wildlife and ultimately people living in the affected area. It would be recalled that groundwater recharges surface water and its depletion will definitely cut off this function.
Finding solution to groundwater depletion
It is not enough to state or know the problems associated with groundwater depletion. We all must be eager to take measures to forestall the predicted shortage of potable water. Its require both our individual and collective effort.
As individual, we must each stop the wastage of water in every conceivable ways. It must be seen as a treasure to be conserved. Public enlightenment campaigns across all available media may be necessary in some areas if this is to be actualized.
Water recycling and reuse come in handy as an efficient method of meeting such lower water usage need as the washing of cars and so on.
There is also an urgent need for legislation by policy makers to regulate the pumping of groundwater by individuals provided measures have been put in place to ensure adequate supply of water to meet various household, agricultural or industrial needs.
In like manner, the use of chemicals capable of contaminating groundwater should be discouraged through both education and legislation.
In Conclusion
I am personally convinced that humanity is capable of handling the looming water challenges threatening our collective well-being if proactive measures are taken individually and collectively and we do not make light of the matter.
Thank you for stopping by.
References
If You Think the Water Crisis Can't Get Worse, Wait Until the Aquifers Are Drained