But not all groundwater is renewable. In fact, humans are using groundwater faster than it can be replenished in many regions of the world.
In some of these areas, most of the groundwater was recharged during ancient eras of dramatically cooler or wetter climates. Like the fossil fuels that were also created under long-vanished conditions, this “fossil water” is considered non-renewable.
Northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Australia, Siberia, and the central United States contain large reserves of fossil groundwater. Fossil water can be a tremendous boon to those in arid or semi-arid climes. But it also poses a real question for water managers: Use it now, or save it for later?
Once non-renewable aquifers have been drawn down to a level at which it is not economic to pump the water, they cease to be a resource because they will not recharge for the foreseeable future. Drawing down this water can also have a variety of other impacts, such as increasing salinity of the water due to salt water intrusion and land subsidence.
But not all groundwater is renewable. In fact, humans are using groundwater faster than it can be replenished in many regions of the world.In some of these areas, most of the groundwater was recharged during ancient eras of dramatically cooler or wetter climates. Like the fossil fuels that were also created under long-vanished conditions, this “fossil water” is considered non-renewable.Northern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Australia, Siberia, and the central United States contain large reserves of fossil groundwater. Fossil water can be a tremendous boon to those in arid or semi-arid climes. But it also poses a real question for water managers: Use it now, or save it for later?Once non-renewable aquifers have been drawn down to a level at which it is not economic to pump the water, they cease to be a resource because they will not recharge for the foreseeable future. Drawing down this water can also have a variety of other impacts, such as increasing salinity of the water due to salt water intrusion and land subsidence.
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