Groundwater safety is at risk due to climate change.
Climate change poses a threat to the quality of water around the globe. In the future, more harmful substances and pathogens might accumulate in moist humid areas, putting the health of hundreds of millions of people at risk. Additionally, biodiversity could suffer as a result.
By the end of this century, it's predicted that hundreds of millions of individuals could be residing in regions with poor-quality groundwater, which could negatively impact their health. "This means that the water there cannot simply be consumed without caution, but would need to be boiled, for example," said Susanne Benz from the Institute for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). "The number of people affected by this depends on the climate scenario."
The temperature of groundwater affects water quality, particularly concerning how hazardous substances like arsen or mangan accumulate. Increased temperatures can lead to negative health effects, especially for those who rely on groundwater as drinking water. Pathogens like Legionella could potentially spread as well.
Furthermore, rising water temperatures seem to influence biodiversity. Fish species like salmon use spawning grounds in rivers fed by groundwater. If these rivers are too warm, it could endanger their reproduction.
Until now, it was unclear how the warming of the Earth's surface due to climate change would impact groundwater. The team led by Benz has now forecasted groundwater temperature changes worldwide up to the year 2100. Their study was recently published in the scientific journal "Nature Geoscience."
The researchers examined various levels of greenhouse gas development. In a medium scenario, groundwater temperature rises by 2.1 degrees Celsius; in an extreme scenario, it rises by 3.5 degrees. Based on these predictions, between 77 and 188 million people or 59 and 588 million people could live in areas where groundwater temperatures exceed the highest groundwater temperature limit set by a country.
"The significant fluctuations are due to the geographical variation of climate change and population growth," the KIT noted. The lowest warming rates are expected in mountainous areas with deep groundwater tables, like the Andes or the Rocky Mountains.
"Today, approximately 30 million people reside in regions where the groundwater is warmer than the strictest drinking water guidelines stipulate," Benz explained. "Our results underline the significance of taking steps to protect groundwater resources and finding sustainable ways to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on groundwater."
Read also:
- Climate change and global warming could exacerbate the issue of poor water quality, potentially leading to health concerns related to drinking water, as harmful substances and pathogens may become more prevalent in groundwater.
- Educational programs are essential to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on groundwater safety, teaching people about the need for proper filtration or boiling of water from areas with high groundwater temperatures.
- With climate change predicted to significantly raise groundwater temperatures, particularly in regions with less greenhouse gas development, it's crucial to invest in initiatives focused on water conservation, sustainable farming, and developing alternative water sources to ensure a healthy and safe water supply for future generations.
