Much of the world is in danger of a groundwater overdraft.
In an episode of 60 Minutes that first aired on Nov. 16, 2014 (and rebroadcast on May 31, 2015), correspondent Lesley Stahl covers a story about how groundwater is being pumped from deep aquifers below the water table, to satisfy our growing population’s demand for fresh water.
According to the story, “Water experts say groundwater is like a savings account — something you draw on in times of need. But savings accounts need to be replenished, and there is new evidence that so much water is being taken out, much of the world is in danger of a groundwater overdraft.”
In some parts of the world, the ground is actually sinking because of all the water that has been pumped out to meet water demands for agriculture and other basic human needs.
Jay Famiglietti, a leading expert on groundwater states “These aquifers near the surface, they can sometimes be replenished very quickly. If we’re talking about a deeper aquifer, that could take tens or hundreds of years to recharge.”
Click here to read the script or watch the video and leave a comment to share your thoughts on how we can replenish our water “savings account”.
