The significance of groundwater to humanity

This year we would like to focus on groundwater; water that is not always clearly visible but very vital to our daily lives.

What is groundwater 
Groundwater is water found underground in aquifers, present beneath the earth's surface in rocks, formation, and social pore spaces. It is recharged mainly from rain and snowfall through ground infiltration and may be discharged from the surface naturally at springs and seeps, oases, or wetlands. Manually, groundwater can be extracted to the surface by pumps and wells too which made groundwater an important source, especially to rural human lives. 

What is the issue revolving around groundwater?
The issue is that when the rate of abstraction of groundwater from aquifers is greater than the rate of it recharged by rain or snow, the supply of groundwater can be seriously depleted. Primarily, it is difficult to know how much groundwater lies beneath our feet, leading to failure in managing these vital resources which could lead to severe impacts on subsistence and the sustainability of our environment.

Why groundwater is important
You may ask, why is groundwater important? Groundwater is the largest active freshwater on the planet, accounting for around 30% of the earth’s freshwater (Water science school, 2018)! This water source provides as much as 50% of the global population and accounts for 37 percent of the water source for municipal and industrial use (Carrard et al., 2020). 

Groundwater is one of the main sources for the rural population, having more than 90 % of the rural population could not have easy access to water from water treatment plants in major cities. ​ Also, groundwater plays an important role in both the water cycle and as a source for areas that do not have access to other sources of freshwater. A good example of such areas includes those that are experiencing droughts. ​

Why should we talk about groundwater?
​With 2.5 billion people depending solely on groundwater resources to satisfy their basic daily water needs, groundwater plays an important role in providing water to humanity. As the population increases, demand increases. Although groundwater is an ​

important resource, there is a lack of ​awareness and commitment to protecting it. With a quickly depleting supply and little understanding of the availability of accessible groundwater sources, we could be heading towards a worrisome and uncertain future.

So, what happens if our groundwater is depleted?
If our groundwater is depleted, it will lead to;

• Huge decrease in stream flows
• Drying up of wells, springs, and wetlands
• Dire loss of flora and fauna of the environment
• Loss of arable agricultural land

While the supply of groundwater may be infinite, it is ultimately a limited resource. To ensure that we have a sustainable supply of groundwater, all of us have a role to play in the protection of this precious resource. If we do not recognize the importance and manage our groundwater resources wisely, billions would eventually have to bear the cost of our ecological apathy.

Understanding the problem is the very first step which is why we hope that you could share this article to raise awareness amongst your community. Interested in what we do? You can also check out some of our groundwater projects at our impact page with indigenous groups all around the world!
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