Water Security: Groundwater: World Crisis, Conflicts Likely Without Better Management -- Report

Oct 29, 2014 | Dylan Brown, E&ENews
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Humanity needs to stop its unchecked run on the world's groundwater reserves rapidly running dry or risk future shortages and conflict, a NASA scientist warns in an article published today in the journal Nature Climate Change."Like money in the bank, groundwater sustains societies through the lean times of little incoming rain and snow," wrote James Famiglietti, a University of California, Irvine, professor who also works in NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. "Hence, without a sustainable groundwater reserve, global water security is at far greater risk than is currently recognized."Despite its importance, hydrogeological exploration required to determine groundwater quantity has never been conducted and people have failed to grasp the idea of "one water," the article said. Antiquated laws allow groundwater to be pumped and wells drilled as if there were a "limitless" supply, it added.