<keyword id="20025308" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="groundwater" source="keywords">Groundwater</keyword>, the Earth's largest source of unfrozen freshwater, is under threat. As our planet heats up, so too does the water hidden beneath our feet. Researchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology predict that by 2100, <keyword id="22348281" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="groundwater-temperatures" source="Orion">groundwater temperatures</keyword> could rise significantly, exceeding safe <keyword id="19905383" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="drinking-water" source="keywords">drinking water</keyword> standards in many regions. The culprit? <keyword id="20649149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="greenhouse-gases" source="keywords">Greenhouse gases</keyword>. Their build-up in the atmosphere traps heat, warming not just the air but also the ground and the water it holds. The study used two climate scenarios, one moderate and one extreme, to estimate the impact. In both cases, the results were concerning. Under the more moderate scenario, groundwater temperatures are projected to rise by 2.1°C by 2100. This may not seem like much, but it's enough to push millions over the edge. Currently, around 30 million people already live in areas where groundwater exceeds safe drinking limits. With rising temperatures, this number could balloon to 77 to 188 million by 2100. Extreme scenarios paint an even bleaker picture. Here, groundwater temperatures could soar by 3.5°C, potentially impacting a staggering 59 to 588 million people. The vast range reflects regional variations in <keyword id="19907392" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-change" source="keywords">climate change</keyword> and population growth. The consequences of this hidden warming are far-reaching. Warmer groundwater can harbour harmful substances like arsenic and manganese, threatening human health. It can also disrupt delicate ecosystems and even impact geothermal energy potential. Fish, particularly those that rely on cool groundwater for spawning, could face reproductive issues. This isn't just an environmental concern; it's a public health crisis in the making. We need to act now to protect our precious groundwater resources. Sustainable practices, coupled with efforts to combat climate change, are crucial to ensure a future where clean drinking water remains a right, not a privilege. The findings of this study have been detailed in Nature Geoscience and can be accessed <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01453-x">here</a>.

Groundwater temperatures could rise several notches by 2100, making it too hot to drink for millions!

<ul><li>The central sector of the Indian <keyword id="395894" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sundarban-biosphere-reserve" source="Orion">Sundarban biosphere reserve</keyword> is hyper-saline.</li><li>No freshwater discharge is coming from the upstream area and this part is receiving only the tidal water of the Bay of Bengal.</li><li>The salinity in the water of the area is increasing since the early 1980s.</li></ul> <keyword id="15741080" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bibhas-mondal" source="Orion">Bibhas Mondal</keyword>, a farmer of West Bengal's Hasnabad <keyword id="6359876" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="gram-panchayat" source="Orion">gram panchayat</keyword>, stopped agricultural work two years ago as Cyclone Aamphan of 2020 inundated the area in the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve with saline water making land unfit for cultivation. Shikha Mondal, another resident of Khapukur village, purchases drinking water from a local treatment plant as tube wells only lift saline water for the same reason. The salinity of the underground water they get from tube wells is 5 PSU (Practical Salinity Unit) while the ideal should be zero PSU, marine scientist Prof Abhijit Mitra told PTI. Many people like Bibhas Mondal and Shikha Mondal who are facing the problems have raised these issues with Chief Minister <keyword id="43868" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="mamata-banerjee" source="Orion">Mamata Banerjee</keyword> when she visited their village in North 24 Parganas district last week. <keyword id="20420" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="banerjee" source="Orion">Banerjee</keyword> directed the district authorities to address their problems. Her government also has plans to create a new district, Sundarbans, and the affected area will be included in it. "We have no drinking water. There is also no (proper) water to cultivate our land. All land has been damaged by the saline water following Cyclone Aamphan in 2020. We want Mamata Banerjee to solve these problems.... We do not want anything else," Sikha Mondal told PTI. The cyclone barrelled through the coastal districts of the state on May 21 two years ago, killing at least 12 people, uprooting thousands of trees, blowing up shanties and swamping low-lying areas. The villagers also have to buy 20 litres of water for Rs 10 from the treatment plant and a family has to shell out around Rs 1,500 a month for drinking water. "The amount is high for us... it is not affordable. We want the administration to address this issue," Sikha Mondal said. Some people in the village are forced to drink saline water. Consumption of such water for a long time is likely to bring a number of health issues. As the land has become unfit for agriculture in Hasnabad, Bhowanipur and Barunhat blocks under Basirhat sub-division, many people are now trying their hand at shrimp farming for a living. "We have no work now. The land has been spoiled by the saline water and we are now trying to earn by shrimp cultivation," Bibhas Mondal said. Villagers stated that they have informed the matter to the local <keyword id="28100" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mla" source="Orion">MLA</keyword>, but there has been no help. Mihir Adhikary, a local leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress, also talked about these problems faced by the people. "We have been requesting the leaders to give us some respite, but there has been no response from anybody. The district administration has been doing nothing. Now, we have told Mamata Banerjee, and she has assured us of help," Bibhas Mondal told PTI. "I've heard about your water-related problems. We are trying to solve it. We will connect all households in West Bengal with tap water by 2024," the chief minister said. Banerjee who distributed saris and blankets among the villagers also said that the state government is working on a masterplan for the overall development of Sunderbans. Some of the women even expressed unhappiness with Banerjee's gift of saris. "What will I do with this sari? We need proper water to drink and cultivate the land. These are affecting our lives," a homemaker who did not wish to be identified told PTI. Expressing concern over the issue, marine scientist Dr Abhijit Mitra said that the salinity in the water of the area is increasing since the early 1980s, especially in the central part of the Indian Sundarbans region. The central sector of the Indian Sundarban biosphere reserve is hyper-saline. No freshwater discharge is coming from the upstream area and this part is receiving only the tidal water of the Bay of Bengal, the Calcutta University teacher said. "The salinity in water in this zone has been increasing but the rise gained momentum since 2009 after Cyclone Aila hit West Bengal. Now, there is around 20gm of salt in one litre of water which is unthinkable for agriculture," he said. However, the situation in the eastern sector of the biosphere, in which the village falls, is not so bad. Talking on condition of anonymity, a senior state government official said that the administration is working hard to address every issue in that area. "Things are not that bad as it has been said. We are working very hard for the overall development of the Sundarbans and its surrounding area," the bureaucrat said. Septuagenarian villager Sushil Mondal is keeping his fingers crossed. "The chief minister has assured us of ending our water problems. Something will definitely happen," he said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/deepika-padukone-signed-as-brand-ambassador-of-furnishing-retailer-pottery-barn/articleshow/96104849.cms">Pottery Barn signs Deepika Padukone as its brand ambassador</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/snapdeal-drops-1250-crore-ipo-plan-citing-prevailing-market-conditions/articleshow/96104961.cms">Snapdeal drops ₹1,250 crore IPO plan citing 'prevailing market conditions'</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/article/top-10-funded-business-models-in-2022-in-india/slidelist/96103212.cms">Online test prep to food delivery, Tracxn lists top 10 funded business models in 2022</a>

Saline groundwater in Sundarbans makes people buy drinking water, quit farming

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51258798.cms" style="width: 800px; height: 600px;" /> Today the world stands at the cusp of <keyword id="6355836" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="water-crisis">water crisis</keyword> and is struggling to manage its repercussions. The strong linkage between water crisis and climate change has made the situation even worse and endangers the future of our planet. It was even reflected in the acceptance speech of <keyword id="26566" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Leonardo-DiCaprio">Leonardo Dicaprio</keyword> at the Oscars. He stated, “The climate change was the most urgent threat facing our entire species.” His powerful message indicates the need to act collectively and take actions for climate adaptation. The ill effects of the climate change in the form of increasing urban heat waves, declining groundwater level, shrinking reservoirs and rising sea levels have had a negative impact on the living conditions of the people. It has even changed the fresh water availability patterns across the global landscape and has created an imbalance of resources in the ecosystem. 
 
The recent Global Risks Report 2016 released by World Economic Forum has declared ‘water crisis’ to be one of the biggest risks in terms of impact for the next ten years. It emphasizes that climate change will drastically exacerbate water crisis and will ultimately lead to conflicts and forced migration. The rising demand of water for the expanding population base of the world is already acting as a challenge, and if not served timely then by 2050, nearly 4 billion people would be living in water scarce areas. The gap between water available to the water consumed and supplied to the households is increasing by every passing day. 
 
India is an ideal case study for understanding the current dynamics of water trends and how it is making life vulnerable for the common people. The country is a home to 18% of the world’s population and has merely 4% of the world’s freshwater resources. This creates a huge pressure on groundwater in terms of an increase in the per capita consumption of water and its extensive usage across different sectors. As a result, it is becoming difficult to bridge the water gap and create a sustainable linkage between its supply and demand. 
 
A glance at the water availability in the metropolitan cities of India in numbers narrates the real story. Statistics listed by the Government of India Census 2011 indicates that only 48% households in the urban pockets of Gurgaon and 74% in Delhi receive drinking water from treated sources. 13% of households in the urban areas of Faridabad are dependent on the hand pump for drinking water. The water table depth in the National Capital Territory (NCT) stands at 280 ft due to the excessive extraction of underground water for various activities. The above data suggests that we need to take immediate steps to conserve our water resources and use water in a judicious way. Further, the improper use of water sources, industrial pollution, and overuse of groundwater accentuates the water challenges. 
 The recent <keyword id="6395360" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jat">Jat</keyword> agitation in the state of Haryana greatly hampered the <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> of the state by creating a water crisis. The nearby regions of Delhi, Faridabad and Gurgaon were devoid of water for nearly two weeks, and the crisis still persist. People were forced to purchase water from private water tankers where these private distributors were exploiting the needs of the people by asking for exorbitant amounts. The State Government has accounted an overall economic loss of Rs 34,000 crores including the damage caused to the Munak canal, which supplies water to NCT. 
 
The entire episode draws our attention towards the fact that we need to look for options that can make our cities self-reliant, strong and livable. Our cities like Gurgaon are an example of an urban disaster and need feasible solutions. There is a need to wisely utilize the existing resources and find ways to conserve them. Action should be taken to treat the wastewater, recharge the natural water resources and enforce strong policies. The Central and State Government are making continuous efforts to create and implement innovative strategies. They are promoting water conservation by providing subsidy on the installation of Rainwater Harvesting because the technique reduces urban flooding and recharges water into the aquifers. They are also installing bulk meters to monitor and manage the water supply system as is done by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). They are now able to track water related information from their bulk meters and act timely. 
 
As reported by the Government of India in 2013, nearly 222 rivers in the country are excessively polluted because of industrial pollutants. The water is unfit for drinking purposes as it contains toxic chemicals, arsenic, and metallic components. The government should take strict action against them by imposing heavy penalties. The immediate need is thus to clean our rivers by starting a ‘Clean India Drive dedicated to our water bodies’ so as to make them pollution free. It is time to understand that we need to take the next step by moving to the implementation from the planning stage. Economic miracle that Indian is hoping will not be possible until we devise right strategies to enhance the livable conditions (Social Progress) of the country. 
 
(The article is co-authored with Neera Vohra, Curator, FortyOver40 (India) and Ankita Garg, Senior Researcher, Institute for Competitiveness. Amit Kapoor is Chair, Institute for Competitiveness &amp; Editor of Thinkers. The views expressed are personal. Amit can be reached at <a href="mailto:amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in">amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in</a> and tweets @kautiliya) 
 
Image credits: indiatimes

Water crisis at our doorstep

<div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/52582953ecad04360a57f2e8-1200-924/chinas-water-shortage-no-swimming.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="China's water shortage no swimming " width="480" /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/remkotanis/">Flickr/Remko Tanis </a></div></div>Northern <keyword id="1334" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> is running out of <keyword id="15300" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Water">water</keyword>, but the government's remedies are potentially disastrous
CHINA endures choking smog, mass destruction of habitats and food poisoned with heavy metals. But ask an environmentalist what is the country's biggest problem, and the answer is always the same. "Water is the worst," says Wang Tao, of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Centre in Beijing, "because of its scarcity, and because of its <keyword id="13001" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="pollution">pollution</keyword>." "Water," agrees Pan Jiahua, of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "People can't survive in a desert." Wang Shucheng, a former water minister, once said: "To fight for every drop of water or die: that is the challenge facing China."
He was not exaggerating. A stock image of China is a fisherman and his cormorant on a placid lake. The reality is different. The country uses 600 billion cubic metres (21,200 billion cubic feet) of water a year, or about 400 cubic metres a person--one-quarter of what the average American uses and less than half the international definition of water stress.
The national average hides an even more alarming regional disparity. Four-fifths of China's water is in the south, notably the Yangzi river basin. Half the people and two-thirds of the farmland are in the north, including the Yellow River basin. Beijing has the sort of water scarcity usually associated with Saudi Arabia: just 100 cubic metres per person a year. The water table under the capital has dropped by 300 metres (nearly 1,000 feet) since the 1970s.
China is using up water at an unsustainable rate. Thanks to overuse, rivers simply disappear. The number of rivers with significant catchment areas has fallen from more than 50,000 in the 1950s to 23,000 now. As if that were not bad enough, China is polluting what little water it has left. The Yellow River is often called the cradle of Chinese civilisation. In 2007 the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, a government agency, surveyed 13,000 kilometres (8,000 miles) of the river and its tributaries and concluded that a third of the water is unfit even for agriculture. Four thousand petrochemical plants are built on its banks.
The water available for use is thus atrocious. Song Lanhe, chief engineer for urban water-quality monitoring at the housing ministry, says only half the water sources in cities are safe to drink. More than half the groundwater in the north China plain, according to the land ministry, cannot be used for industry, while seven-tenths is unfit for human contact, ie, even for washing. In late 2012 the Chinese media claimed that 300 corpses were found floating in the Yellow River near Lanzhou, the latest of roughly 10,000 victims--most of them (according to the local police) suicides--whose bodies have been washing downstream since the 1960s.
In 2009 the World Bank put the overall cost of China's water crisis at 2.3% of GDP, mostly reflecting damage to health. Water shortages also imperil plans to expand energy production, threatening economic growth. China is hoping to follow America into a shale-gas revolution. But each shale-gas well needs 15,000 tonnes of water a year to run. China is also planning to build around 450 new coal-fired power stations, burning 1.2 billion tonnes of coal a year. The stations have to be cooled by water and the coal has to be washed. The grand total is 9 billion tonnes of water. China does not have that much available. According to the World Resources Institute, a think-tank in Washington, DC, half the new coal-fired plants are to be built in areas of high or extremely high water stress.
<h3>Every drop is precious</h3>
The best answer would be to improve the efficiency with which water is used. Only about 40% of water used in industry is recycled, half as much as in Europe. The rest is dumped in rivers and lakes. Wang Zhansheng of Tsinghua University argues that China is neglecting its urban water infrastructure (sewerage, pipes and water-treatment plants), leading to more waste. Water prices in most cities are only about a tenth of the level in big European cities, yet the government is reluctant to raise them, for fear of a popular backlash.
The result is that China's "water productivity" is low. For each cubic metre of water used, China gets $8-worth of output. The average for European countries is $58 per cubic metre. Of course, these countries are richer--but they are not seven times richer.
Rather than making sensible and eminently doable reforms in pricing and water conservation, China is focusing on increasing supplies. For decades the country has been ruled by engineers, many of them hydraulic engineers (including the previous president, Hu Jintao). Partly as a result, Communist leaders have reacted to water problems by building engineering projects on a mind-boggling scale.
The best known such project is the Three Gorges dam on the Yangzi. But this year an even vaster project is due to start. Called the South-North Water Diversion Project, it will link the Yangzi with the Yellow River, taking water from the humid south to the parched north. When finished, 3,000km of tunnels and canals will have been drilled through mountains, across plains and under rivers. Its hydrologic and environmental consequences could be enormously harmful.
The project links China's two great rivers through three new channels. The eastern, or downstream one is due to open by the end of this year (see map on previous page). It would pump 14.8 billion cubic metres along 1,160km of canals, using in part a 1,500-year-old waterway, the Grand Canal. The water pumped so far has been so polluted that a third of the cost has gone on water treatment. A midstream link, with 1,300km of new canals, is supposed to open by October 2014. That is also when work on the most ambitious and controversial link, the upstream one across the fragile Himalayan plateau, is due to begin. Eventually the South-North project is intended to deliver 45 billion cubic metres of water a year and to cost a total of 486 billion yuan ($79.4 billion). It would be cheaper to desalinate the equivalent amount of seawater.
The environmental damage could be immense. The Yangzi river is already seriously polluted. Chen Jiyu of the Chinese Academy of Engineering told South Weekly, a magazine, in 2012 that the project so far has reduced the quantity of plankton in the Yangzi by over two-thirds and the number of benthic organisms (those living on the river bottom) by half. And that was before it even opened. Ma Jun, China's best known environmental activist, says the government's predilection for giant engineering projects only makes matters worse, "causing us to hit the limits of our water resources".
But the biggest damage could be political. Proposed dams on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, Mekong and other rivers are bound to have an impact on downstream countries, including India, Bangladesh and Vietnam. The Chinese say they would take only 1% of the run-off from the giant Brahmaputra. But if all these projects were operational--and the engineering challenges of one or two of them are so daunting that even the Chinese might balk at them--they would affect the flow of rivers on which a billion people depend. Hence the worries for regional stability. And all this would increase China's water supplies by a mere 7%. The water crisis is driving China to desperate but ultimately unhelpful measures.
Click <a href="https://subscriptions.economist.com/nwcd">here</a> to subscribe to <keyword id="425741" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="The-Economist">The Economist</keyword>.

You Searched For "groundwater unfit for drinking" and got 4 results

Groundwater temperatures could rise several notches by 2100, making it too hot to drink for millions!

Ashmita Gupta

Saline groundwater in Sundarbans makes people buy drinking water, quit farming

PTI

Water crisis at our doorstep

Amit Kapoor

China Is Running Out Of Water, But The Government's Solutions Are Potentially Disastrous

The Economist