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Worldwide Demand for Water Outstrips Supply: Study Groundwater use is unsustainable in many of the world's major agricultural zones

~ The Rebel ~ 2012/08/11 17:53:39
Almost one-quarter of the world’s population lives in regions where groundwater is being used up faster than it can be replenished, concludes a comprehensive global analysis of groundwater depletion, published this week in Nature.

The world's oldest and largest acquifers, according to the study, have supplied civilization with water for agricultural and industrial use for thousands of years, but are now under threat from over-extraction and the underground reservoirs can no longer replenish themselves at a sustainable rate.

“This overuse can lead to decreased groundwater availability for both drinking water and growing food,” says Tom Gleeson, a hydrogeologist at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and lead author of the study. Eventually, he adds, it “can lead to dried up streams and ecological impacts”.

According to Reuters, "Gleeson said limits on water extraction, more efficient irrigation and the promotion of different diets, with less or no meat, could make these water resources more sustainable."

Read More: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/08/09

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  • Georgia50 2012/08/11 23:54:05
    Georgia50
    +1
    In the next 100 years, we'll be dragging huge hydroponic farm installations across the ocean, desalinating water for farming. The crops will be processed 24/7/365, with freighters pulling alongside to load up packages and crates for delivery to shore. They're close to developing production of artificial meat. So same thing...grown offshore. 70% of earth's surface is water. We just haven't adjusted food growing to mega-billion populations yet.
  • Tastentier 2012/08/11 22:55:55 (edited)
    Tastentier
    +2
    According to the map, this mainly affects India, Pakistan, Mexico, and several Middle Eastern countries:

    map affects middle east india pakistan mexico

    And yet, they're listing the USA along with these countries as one of the most "water-thirsty nations". I guess this means that the U.S. will be one of the first nations in line for the "promotion of different diets with less or no meat".

    Cue the propaganda war. Oh wait... it has already started. Brainwashed militant vegans have been popping up everywhere. PETA has long been touting that meat is murder, chicken farms are just like Auschwitz, and cows are basically slaves. The First Lady has already reminded you to eat your veggies and save Obamacare a few dollar. And the soy industry has financed studies which claim that meat causes cancer.

    The studies are complete nonsense btw, since it is actually nitrite curing salt in processed meat that slightly increases the cancer risk. But instead of outlawing nitrite salts, which can easily be substituted by ordinary table salt, it will be decided that meat is the new tobacco. "You have meat eater's breath! That's such a disgusting and unhealthy habit, and it's killing the environment!" Say goodbye to juicy steaks and grilled chicken, because the prices will be pushed through the roof. And expect your future employer to ask if you're an omnivore.
  • ~ The R... Tastentier 2012/08/12 02:52:59
    ~ The Rebel ~
    So...this article is UN propaganda?
  • ed 2012/08/11 21:58:05
    ed
    +1
    then they need to learn how to use less.
  • jackolantyrn356 2012/08/11 21:45:03
    jackolantyrn356
    +1
    Created luke the last time. Despots b;ocking the stream,s and tributaries among doing all they can to stop the rain
  • goatman112003 2012/08/11 19:25:24
    goatman112003
    +3
    About 30 years ago the CIA issued a report stating that around 2015 wars would be fought over water. and lo and behold they were on the mark. There is also water adequate ability rating for every country on the planet. The problem is most available water is wasted or polluted.
  • ~ The R... goatman... 2012/08/11 20:57:13
    ~ The Rebel ~
    +1
    So... they preplanned all this hype?
  • goatman... ~ The R... 2012/08/11 22:13:35
    goatman112003
    +3
    To a degree yes. Its been known for quite a span of time that potable water on earth is running out. Most of the causes is poor sewerage practices and industrial pollution makes the water unfit. China in the next 10 years will run out of water for human use because of this problem and no expansion can be done til they get additional water online for both people and industry. Wisdom says we should be building dams to store the water for both drinking and electricity but the Green movement is pushing to knock all dams down for nature to take its course. So you have conflicting ideologies coming into the fray. Are fish more important than man or the reverse. Remember the fights over the Colorado river between the states over water and the amounts. About 30 years ago California floated the idea of building a pipeline from Lake Superior to California to tap that water source. This is the reason the States and Provinces bordering the Lakes passed laws as to the water is ours and you can't have it.
    So they report the obvious and hype it. Was it preplanned probably for pushing Agenda 21 which is nonsense but more of a feel good they are doing something.
  • Hula girl - Friends not Fol... 2012/08/11 18:43:49
    Hula girl - Friends not Followers
    +3
    Lies lies and more lies. Just another way to try to control.
  • IndyLinda 2012/08/11 18:30:41
    IndyLinda
    +2
    Soylent green coming soon, along with seizure of the Great Lakes.
  • goatman... IndyLinda 2012/08/11 22:16:46
    goatman112003
    +2
    California approx 30 years ago wanted the Feds to build a pipeline to Superior so they could tap into the water. The states and the canadian provinces passed laws saying the water is ours and you can't have it. This is the first attempt to seize that water.
  • IndyLinda goatman... 2012/08/11 22:42:45
    IndyLinda
    +2
    About 25 years ago, they wanted to pipe it to TX, AZ and NM. Now the UN is after it.
  • goatman... IndyLinda 2012/08/12 00:23:05
    goatman112003
    +1
    That's agenda 21 and the latest in lawsuits the US gov't has claimed New Mexico water sources as controlled by them and aren't releasing the water to municipalities.
  • zbacku 2012/08/11 18:05:42
    zbacku
    +2
    That's why I love Michigan. Michigan Great Lakes
    Surrounded by FRESH water.
  • westernslope~PWCM~JLA 2012/08/11 18:00:08
    westernslope~PWCM~JLA
    +4
    I don't trust any of these supposedly "science-based" studies anymore. Too many folks have their own agendas.
  • goatman... western... 2012/08/11 22:17:17
    goatman112003
    +2
    Very true.
  • Ken 2012/08/11 17:57:35
    Ken
    +3
    Then we better learn how to treat ocean water more efficiently.
  • goatman... Ken 2012/08/11 22:19:34
    goatman112003
    +2
    We can either by Osmosis or distillation but they require large amounts of electricity and nuclear is the only way which the Greens fight.
  • Ken goatman... 2012/08/11 22:26:21
    Ken
    +2
    They won't when there is no water to drink.
  • goatman... Ken 2012/08/12 00:24:29
    goatman112003
    +2
    Remember this fight isn't just about water but population control and the green agenda.
  • krayzrick 2012/08/11 17:54:29
    krayzrick
    +2
    As I've said many times....too many people.

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