Lab Report: Groundwater Sustainability
Lab Report: Groundwater Sustainability
The purpose of the study was to investigate if a non-change in the current trends in human development will affect groundwater.
Introduction
The indiscriminate and excessive use of groundwater has in the recent past raised questions regarding its sustainability (Ponce, 2006). Both the removal, destruction and impairment of the natural environment in the drive to meet the demands of human development are some of the greatest causes of perilous impacts on the sustainability potential of our natural underground water resource base. This problem is worsened by the fact that unlike surface water, ground water does not recharge as fast, with rates of groundwater rejuvenation varying from years to millennia depending on factors such as aquifer location, properties, connectivity, type, and depth (Ponce, 2006). Because more than 99% of the accessible 1% usable water on Earth is located in the natural underground water chambers (like aquifers), excessive pumping can lead to the depletion of the water, where the rate of extraction is faster than replenishment. (The National Groundwater Association [NGWA], 2013; Wright & Boorse, 2010). Even though water covers more than 70% of the earth's surface, only a small percentage of it is both usable and accessible to sustain planetary life. Therefore, the continued unregulated use of this portion can lead not only to the depletion of the resource but also the eventual ruin to all (Ponce, 2006). Still humans are depleting the aquifers faster than they can be recharged.
Conditions
The sustainability of groundwater is a concept that relates to the development and utilization of underground water to meet the current purposes and guarantee the same in the future without causing unacceptable consequences (UNESCO). The sources of depletion of this important source of freshwater are varied and numerous. However, the most common sources include saltwater intrusion (Fig 1), disruption of the global hydrologic cycle due to human activities like deforestation, and in the recent past the ecological effects of global climate change and variability. Disturbance of the underground water system hampers the ability of the groundwater to support economic development and growth, global agriculture, and the recharge and support of streams, wetlands, aquatic communities, and lakes (Wright & Boorse, 2010). The sustainability of the groundwater is particularly significant for several global potable-water supplies because this water system can balance and meet the demands of the water cycle and provide usable water to planetary biota (NGWA), 2013) (Fig 2). Despite their importance, the groundwater resources worldwide are increasingly becoming vulnerable to human activities and in the recent times the looming uncertain consequences of climate change. For instance, land clearing for human development causes more floods, reduces the rates of transpiration, and further hampers adequate percolation of water into the ground. All these factors then collectively contribute to inadequate recharge of groundwater.
Figure: Saltwater Intrusion
Information as retrieved from (Wright & Boorse, 2010)
Figure 2: The Hydrologic Cycle
Information as retrieved from (Wright & Boorse, 2010)
Hypothesis
If the current trends of human development activities do not change, the sustainability of the groundwater will be affected.
Methods
In this study, a combination of two scientific methods, a laboratory generated chart analysis, and the online search was used to carry out the experiment.
Results
The study results show that human activities will continue to have significant effects on groundwater. Factors such as industrial development, farming, saltwater intrusion, increased population, and unsustainable utilization of forests will impact expressively on the global underground water system (Table 1)
Discussion
The results obtained from the experiment as shown in Table 1 above demonstrates that the hypothesis of the study was correct. Currents trends in human development if unchanged will affect the sustainability of the global groundwater supply (Wright & Boorse, 2010). Human activities such increase housing development, urbanization, and loss of vegetation through clearing and deforestation affect the underground water budget. The study shows that negative changes in forest cover (50% in the 1900s and 90% in the 2000s) corresponds to a similar decline in the ground water levels. Increased farming, high scale urbanization, and the growth in housing projects to accommodate the swelling population also contributed to the depletion of underground water from the 1800s to the 2000s. If this trend continues, there will be a significant decrease of underground water in the future. The impacts of groundwater depletion are numerous. However, the most obvious are depletion of stream flow, environmental impacts such as land subsidence, and a reduction of the world’s agricultural output deriving from reduced water for irrigation (NGWA 2013).
Conclusion
Excessive removal of underground water due to unsustainable human activities can lead to several socio-economic as well as environmental consequences. One such effect is the reduction of global agricultural food supply due to reduced amount of underground water available for irrigation. The experiment showed that impacts on forests, population growth, industrial development, and saltwater intrusion since the 1800s have had significant adverse effects on underground water. If this trend continues, there will be severe depletion of this precious resource in the future.
References
The National Ground water Association (NGWA). (2013). Ground Water Sustainability: A White Paper. Retrieved from National Ground Water Association website: http://www.ngwa.org/documents/positionpapers/sustainwhitepaper.pdf
Ponce, V. N. (2006, March). Groundwater Utilization and Sustainability. Retrieved April 7, 2016, from groundwater.sdsu.edu/
UNESCO. (2). The United Nations World Water Development Report 2 (2006/2). Retrieved from Green Facts website: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/water-resources/l-3/4-effect-human-actions.htm
Wright, R. T., & Boorse, D. F. (2010). Environmental science: Toward a sustainable future (11th ed.). New York, NY: White Plains, NY: Addison Wesley.
