National

The Importance of National Groundwater

Ensuring the well-being of groundwater is a crucial concern for nations, including the United States. U.S. groundwater is being depleted at an unsustainable rate. Without a plan to combat this issue, we could be looking at a shortage.

The Issue We Face in the U.S.

One of the largest issues in the United States when it comes to groundwater is depletion or excessive pumping. Because it is a drinking water resource for about half the population and provides around 50 billion gallons per day for agricultural use, groundwater is one of our most important resources. Pumping groundwater at an excessive rate, without allowing it to replenish, negatively impacts not only humans but also the environment. Below are some negative effects of groundwater depletion in the U.S. :

Lowering The Water Table

The Water Table is the underground area between the soil surface and the area where groundwater saturates. If groundwater levels are depleted too far, the table will be lowered. Meaning, we would have to dig deeper or create new wells. This would also cause water yield to decline.

Land Subsidence

Land Subsidence refers to the loss of support below ground. When water is taken out of the soil, it can collapse and drop. This can create a sinkhole and damage large areas of land. In some cases, when large amounts of water are removed, the soil compacts, reducing the pore size in the soil. This reduces the overall storage capacity of the system as well.

Increased Cost

As we dig deeper for water, we have to install pumps. These pumps take both energy and money to produce. Some research suggests that groundwater depletion may decrease based on the cost of these pumps. However, we are never going to reduce our need for drinking water, so finding less expensive and more sustainable extraction sources is needed.

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