Groundwater – understanding and protecting the invisible resource

Sources of water such as lakes and rivers offer passive recharge, or if rain falls during part of the year, some of it soaks into the ground and is stored there. While they are essential "one water," we call groundwater by a distinct name because it may be reached in different ways: it can be found almost anywhere at any time and is usually of good quality.

You will almost certainly find water under your feet if you have the means to drill a well. It takes a long time for groundwater to be impacted, even during droughts. It's like a safe, non-evaporating reservoir of water. And it's for this reason that it's so appealing for climate change adaptation and resilience.

According to the UN, by 2100, the Earth's population, which was roughly 8 billion in 2020, is predicted to have risen to 11 billion. Humans will have to figure out how to generate enough food without depleting the soil, water, or climate. This has been described as humanity's greatest challenge. Groundwater management that is sustainable is at the heart of the answer. It is critical to have a scientific understanding of groundwater and to manage it properly, because groundwater may help solve the problem if we use it responsibly and replenish it.

Groundwater, despite being submerged beneath the Earth's surface, plays a crucial role in the water cycle. Rivers, lakes, and wetlands are surface manifestations of groundwater that exchange flow with the groundwater reservoir that feeds them when they need water and removes part of their flow when there is plenty of surface water.

Many features on the Earth's surface are also controlled by groundwater. Because only drought-tolerant plants can thrive on dry hillsides and water-tolerant plants can live near streams, the depth of the water table is partly responsible for different plant species occupying different positions along the slopes from hill to valley. Caves and sinkholes are formed by the dissolution of carbonate rocks by flowing groundwater. Groundwater outflow creates oases in arid areas, which provide habitat for animals and plants.

Groundwater, which accounts for nearly 99% of the world's liquid freshwater, has the potential to provide countries with enormous social, economic, and environmental benefits and opportunities. Groundwater now provides half of the water withdrawn for household use by the global population, including drinking water for more than 90% of the rural population who do not have access to public or private water delivery systems, as well as about 25% of all agriculture water withdrawn.

However, because this natural resource is frequently misunderstood, it is underestimated, mishandled, and even abused, putting it at risk of depletion and pollution. The immense potential of groundwater and the need to manage it responsibly can no longer be neglected in the face of escalating water scarcity in many regions of the world.

Groundwater is an important source of water, as well as a critical storage element for climate change adaptation, as well as sustaining aquatic ecosystems and regulating river baseflow. Despite these remarkable facts, most people are unaware of groundwater because it is invisible. At the same time, water scarcity is becoming more prevalent, affecting around 2.7 billion people worldwide for at least one month each year. As surface water supply decreases as a result of human activities and climate change, groundwater dependency and pressure increase. We still don't know enough about the state of the world's groundwater supplies, and we don't manage aquifers well enough.

Human activities and climate change are putting increasing pressure on the world's invisible groundwater supplies. Our response to this pressure is frequently insufficient, owing to a lack of understanding of the importance of groundwater resources.

Groundwater is in danger:

Experts at Maithri opine that many of the world’s largest aquifers (groundwater reserves) are being depleted, according to modern scientific measurements. Streamflow can be reduced, springs or wetlands can dry up, vegetation can be lost, well water levels drop, and soil subsidence can occur as a result of depletion. Another hazard to groundwater is pollution caused by human activities, which results in the release of chemicals and pollutants into the subsurface. Groundwater quality is degraded by pollution, posing a threat to human and ecological health.

Groundwater, a large but scarce resource, will face increased demand as the human population expands. The need to better understand our groundwater systems and manage them within the restrictions of the hydrologic cycle is now more important than ever.

Most serious hazards or challenges to groundwater:

Because everyone with the means can use groundwater everywhere, there is a strong tendency to exploit it extensively, posing a risk of resource depletion. This is particularly evident in semi-arid regions, where irrigation is used extensively in agriculture. If you take too much of it, it loses its drought-proofing ability. There is a major difficulty if there is a drought.

Groundwater is also at risk of contamination due to agricultural fertiliser and pesticide use, as well as dumpsites and inadequate sanitation systems. Groundwater pollution is difficult to treat, especially for resistant or constant-load contaminants, therefore this issue may become increasingly more significant as time goes on. We must consider the chemicals in our products and how we can decrease their use to conserve groundwater, as well as how we can better recycle, protect waste sites, and plan our land use.

Groundwater should be protected:

We at Maithri, believe that water utilities and wastewater treatment plants have access to cutting-edge technology that makes infrastructure monitoring and management easier and more cost-effective. Groundwater monitoring and management are also aided by this technology, which includes Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS can aid in the analysis of drainage, soil conditions, and other groundwater data in groundwater management. GIS may also be used to track groundwater levels and identify potential recharging sites.

Groundwater has a concept known as “safe yield”. The amount of water that can be extracted from an aquifer is referred to as “safe yield”. Groundwater extraction that exceeds the safe yield increases the danger of water scarcity.

Each stakeholder in the use of groundwater has its own criteria and expectations. This clearly explains why they are at odds with one another. About amount, one sort of dispute may occur. For example, in areas where a well can be sunk deeper into the ground to acquire a larger volume of groundwater. Another person may be concerned about the quality of the groundwater extracted.

Our experts believe that coordinated management can address certain difficult, long-standing water quality and quantity issues, but the benefits will typically take years to manifest. Because groundwater depletion and degradation disproportionately affect poor rural areas, hence more rapid solutions are required. Maithri’s AWG (Atmospheric Water Generator) based product, MEGHDOOT produces pure and clean drinking water from the air, while allowing groundwater to recharge. We need more sustainable solutions like MEGHDOOT to protect our groundwater resources for a better and greener planet.

Groundwater, which is unseen beneath our feet, may not be the first water resource that springs to mind when discussing conflict, collaboration, and peace. However, as competition for freshwater grows, so does interest in safeguarding shared aquifers. Whatever the situation may be, the problem is that once groundwater is depleted, it will not be replaced anytime soon. This is one of the reasons why groundwater management is a critical issue that must be addressed through various processes and solutions. Our specialists continuously emphasise the importance of improving field monitoring and data analysis. Such actions, we believe, are well worth funding in order to avoid potential water conflicts and achieve water security. Also, women’s active participation in water diplomacy is essential for the long-term management of shared (ground) water resources, as well as peace and stability. In addition, decision-makers must consider the social and political implications.

At Maithri, we are transforming water accessibility for all globally with its innovative water-related technologies and solutions. With 100% water positive, there is zero reliance on available water resources and zero wastage of water. Our water solutions assure consistent high-quality water and help groundwater sources to recharge.

Speak with one of our experts now to learn more about our water-driven global initiatives.

Maithri Aquatech:

info@maithriaqua.co.in ; +91 77022 91519 (WhatsApp)

Water is a source of resilience: a call for coordinated action on water access globally

With only 1% of our planet's total water supply easily available, one of the most serious challenges in the modern world is our failure to provide clean water to every population. According to a United Nations (UN) report from July 2021, around 2 billion people – nearly 26% of the world's population – struggle to obtain and maintain a clean and safe water supply [ref]. Due to rising population and limited freshwater resources, Asian countries are the hardest hit by the catastrophe. As a result of the synergistic effects of agricultural development, industrialisation, and urbanisation, several countries have begun to confront moderate to severe water shortages.

Investing in collaborative, innovative projects that work towards ensuring water security for all is the greatest way to confront this hazardous situation head-on, as it is now a matter of life and death for many people. A worldwide dialogue, where leaders and industry professionals can exchange best practices on technology-driven solutions and effective governance, is required to future-proof and maintain the sustainability of water supplies across all nations.

Important steps toward resolving the water crisis:

• Implementing long-term demand reduction, which necessitates monitoring water usage trends.

• Strengthening resilient water technologies by examining where high-population areas stand in terms of existing resources, and by establishing new methods with industries as a technology-enabled structure necessitates industrial engagement, as well as by recycling.

• Decarbonizing water by lowering the amount of energy used in water treatment and transportation.

We can dramatically reform all types of water consumption and prevent the current scarcity from increasing if we retain a conscious emphasis on these three areas. Water security is influenced by our personal lifestyle choices. Water conservation on an operational level is one measure that can be made to ease and de-escalate the water crisis. This necessitates a societal examination of how water is used, and the development of solutions aimed at minimising waste, preventing water quality degradation, and enhancing overall water management. A typical smartphone, for example, has a water footprint of around 13,000 litres, or about 130 bathtubs. This is the quantity of water required to manufacture all the phone's components, including the microprocessor, glass, plastic, and metal, and much of it is drinkable. Rethinking how we create and produce items could have a significant impact on ensuring a reliable water supply.

Population growth, urbanisation, and high living standards are all factors. By 2050, urban regions are expected to house 68 percent of the world's population. This increase in urbanisation is not necessarily a bad thing, but it will have substantial consequences for the environment, including a lack of access to adequate water and sanitation, as well as an increase in water-related calamities like floods and droughts. The problem is to achieve sustainable growth without harming the environment, such as avoiding critical concerns that contribute to rapid deterioration and degradation of water quality at water supply intake locations. Reuse and recycling, as well as investing in important technology and infrastructure, should be part of this focus in dealing with water scarcity challenges. This requires implementing the appropriate policies and laws to meet future demands. To ensure water sustainability for future generations, a plan's layout should encompass at least 100 years.

Innovating for the future

When it comes to innovation, a willingness to embrace change and collaborate for the sake of a more sustainable future is required. More than simply technical innovation is required for change; it also necessitates the evolution of business models, governance structures, triggers, and the integration of general change management methods.

Sustainability advocates for resource management that do not deplete resources for future generations. Climate change and the limited resources available to us necessitate more efficient water systems than we now have. Efficient water management necessitates a holistic approach in which various stakeholders – policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, engineers, academicians, and water management professionals – come together to discuss and debate how to use innovation to protect urban water systems from the effects of climate uncertainty, as well as how future infrastructure systems can build resilience to extreme weather events while improving resource efficiency.

These discussions highlight the importance of resilient water infrastructure for global sustainable development, particularly in the rapidly urbanising Asia area. Developing efficient and inclusive water supplies, as well as future-proofing coastal infrastructure that will endure generations, is a never-ending task that we must solve via dialogue and collaboration that will result in successful action.

Impact as a group

We're driving the transition to a water-resilient future for businesses and communities, working with global business leaders to spearhead a collective corporate response in this critical moment. We're asking businesses to join us in responding quickly and on a large scale, utilising their worldwide operating footprints to expedite access to water and raise hygiene awareness among employees and consumers, as well as within supply chains and in the communities where they do business.

While the pandemic has had a worldwide impact, communities with weak healthcare systems and inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities are particularly vulnerable — these are the systems and geographies on which many globalised supply chains rely. COVID-19 has highlighted global interdependence and expedited the underlying threats to business continuity, such as climate change, water security, and brittle supply networks. A cross-border, cross-sector approach to freshwater resilience and sustainable water availability is vital to overcoming COVID-19 and mitigating future global health and climate disasters.

Through COVID-19 and beyond, resiliency

Investing in water and hygiene initiatives is a long-term investment in company resilience, not just for COVID-19 recovery. Healthy communities and ecosystems are the foundations of resilient businesses. Water stewardship is an opportunity for progressive organisations to ensure business continuity, not only corporate social responsibility.

The climate issue makes it even more difficult to get clean water: during droughts, freshwater sources dry up; during floods, water supplies are compromised; and rising oceans exacerbate groundwater salinity. This, combined with the fact that many developing nations' WASH systems are already inadequate, exposes billions of people to climate and health concerns. Two billion people live in water-stressed areas around the world. If nothing is done, half of the world's population will live in water-stressed countries by 2050, putting their health and livelihoods at risk.

Protecting employees and local populations is critical to both operational and financial stability for enterprises with supply chains in water-stressed and WASH-vulnerable nations. The synergy that results from investing in sustainable water solutions that benefits people, the earth, and, eventually, economic success, has a clear financial rationale. Increased productivity is predicted to be $4.30 for every $1 invested in WASH. COVID-19 provides an opportunity to lead via water stewardship, incorporating concrete WASH targets into corporate sustainability strategies to ensure long-term economic viability.

Act right now

Work with Maithri Aquatech, an expert to effect long-term changes in your supply chain and surrounding communities. Maithri’s AWG (Atmospheric Water Generation) based MEGHDOOT devices are conceived, developed, and built on a local level in response to climatic conditions. It lowers the cost of the infrastructure required to provide drinking water because the production and consumption locations are the same. The machines are capable of supplying over 1000 litres of water each day. This method can reduce the need to purchase plastic bottled water by producing water on-site. There is no danger of drilling or borehole depletion. It may be used in a wide range of weather conditions. We have deployed solutions to domestic, private, and public customers in over 27 countries.

Follow the global water mandates and water aid frameworks by WHO, which outlines practical steps your company can take to speed up its COVID-19 response in operations, supply chains, and the communities where employees live, paving the way for a 'blue' economic recovery and long-term resilience.

Maithri Aquatech

info@maithriaqua.co.in; +91 77022 91519 (WhatsApp)