Tenacity
The lab research sought to find out how human activities of overdevelopment affect the sustainability of underground water.
Introduction
Over the years, human development has continuously led to the depletion of groundwater. Water is over pumped from the ground on a near daily basis, leading to continuous reduction of ground water (Environmental and Water Resources Institute & Chang, 2010). Sustainability in that case referred to keeping the quantity of water above average that would ensure it was preserved.
Hypothesis
The water levels drop with continued human activity and development.
Methods
Statistics on the impact of human activities such as forestry, salt intrusion and industrial activities were taken and compared to the water levels through the centuries. The water levels were measured and compared to the rate of human activities in a particular period. Through the measurements, percentages were established from the levels of water at a given time. The magnitude of human activities was also represented in percentages and was collected from statistical observation.
Results/outcome
It was established that during the 19th and 20th centuries, the human activities increased by fifty and ninety percentages respectively. The water levels considerably reduced in these centuries as development flowed. The ocean was found to move into the ground water. The decrease in ground water levels was around ninety percent, which signifies a lot of loss in water.
Analysis
The results in this research were expected. If the development in the world continues at the rate in which it is then humanity faces a greater risk of losing ground water completely. The little water that will remain will be suitable to sustain us. Because many people see underground water as abundant, they participate in its overuse. In addition, they caused the contamination of water through petrol products, wastes, and pesticides (International Association of Hydrological Sciences & Webb, 2006). Groundwater had been used for various functions even though indirectly. People did not know that the pursuit for economic development affects the nature and quantity of water in the long run. Underground water can be said to be the source of all water. The source, too, can dry up if overused. Continued contamination will also render the water useless.
References
Environmental and Water Resources Institute (États-Unis), & Chang, N.-B. (2010). Effects of urbanization on groundwater: An engineering case-based approach for sustainable development. Reston: American Society of Civil Engineers
International Association of Hydrological Sciences, & Webb, B. (2006). Sustainability of groundwater resources and its indicators. Wallingford: IAHS.
