Fighting
Saltwater Intrusion Into Groundwater Supplies
FLUENCE NEWS TEAM
 |
In coastal areas, drawing too much water from underground aquifers draws in saltwater, making the water unfit for consumption or irrigation. |
As
freshwater supplies around the world diminish, human intervention is needed to
protect existing sources to slow the onset of water scarcity.
One
ongoing struggle is to preserve the water in underground aquifers, which cities
often rely on for drinking water.
Intrusion
of saltwater into these underground supplies is rendering them unfit for
consumption or irrigation.
The
rock and soil that form these underground basins are permeable.
This
allows the aquifers to recharge from precipitation, but when over-extraction
changes the aquifer’s pressure, saltwater can seep in.
When
cities exclusively rely on groundwater as a water source, this is a problem.
According
to experts from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission explained to the
San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco blends local groundwater with
reservoir-sourced water.
To
keep its groundwater use in check, wells are monitored for both water level and
salt content.
Agency
officials said that if either level should change, it will switch to other
wells or stop using groundwater.
In
nearby Watsonville, the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency is spending $6.3
million to address the area’s seawater intrusion problems, which are caused by
overdrafting.
This
problem is well documented in this and other parts of California, and in
coastal New Jersey and Florida, and has been recorded throughout the world for
about 100 years.
Island
areas such as the Maldives have had ongoing struggles.
Rising
Sea Level and Subsidence
In
Egypt, a combination of the rising sea level and land subsidence is increasing
saltwater intrusion.
With
only 660 cubic meters of fresh water a year for each resident, Egypt is one of
the world’s water-poor nations.
In
comparison, residents of the United States use 9,800 cubic meters of water per
capita.
Crop
productivity has been decreasing, and with the population of Egypt expected to
double within the next 50 years, a lack of both water and food could prove
catastrophic.
The
global rise in seawater levels — expected to increase between 11 and 88
centimeters during this century — will exacerbate the problem around the world.
Ahmed
Sefelnasr, an Assuit University geologist, explained the problem in detail. Not
only will the land eventually shift, he said, but also:
[C]limate change may
cause variations in rainfall which would affect the natural replenishment of
groundwater. […] due to the anticipated reduction in rainfall and surface water
resources in arid and semi-arid regions, the reliance on, and exploration of,
groundwater resources would increase to substitute for the scarcity of surface
water resources and meet the water demands of the various sectors.
Sustainable
Water Supplies
If
the best solution for the problem is to not use underground water, then what
should be done?
Many
communities are exploring a combination of options to create more sustainable
and resilient water supplies.
These
include groundwater management, aquifer recharge, water reuse, stormwater
management and capture, and advanced water treatment, including desalination.
The
problems are long-term ones. Rosemarie Imazio, head of the Pajaro Valley Water
Management Agency board explained to the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
Every bit [of water]
we can save and put to a better use without having to draw out of the ground is
hugely important. […] We’re chipping away at it a little at a time.
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https://www.fluencecorp.com/fighting-saltwater-intrusion-into-groundwater-supplies/
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