water

WATER DEPLETION.

We are running out of (fresh) water. This will have catastrophic effects in the near future. If you think that I am exaggerating, read the following quotes from authoritative sources.

The following quotes are from the book The Long Emergency, by James Howard Kunstler, published by Atlantic Books, 2005.

Page 242:- “In the case of the Great Plains (in the USA), we’ve been depleting underground reservoirs (aquifers) of what are essentially fossil water accumulated over the ages and not subject to timely restoration.”

Page 159:- (in parts of China) “water tables are falling by THREE TO TEN FEET PER YEAR.” (My capitals.)

Page 9:- “China, where MASSIVE DESERTIFICATION AND FRESHWATER DEPLETION ARE ALREADY AT CRISIS LEVELS.” (My capitals.)

Page 164:- The author quotes ecological ethicist Bill McKibben who states that we have artificially inflated food production using underground water - “The pumping of groundwater has generated tremendous crop yields - - - but when the water starts to run dry, that free ride is over.”

Pages 162 to 163:- “The great aquifers of North America, China, and India ARE ALL DEPLETING RAPIDLY - - - - THE RAPIDLY DIMINISHING SUPPLIES OF FRESH WATER - - - - - The groundwater levels of the northern China plains have plummeted - - - - Of China’s 617 cities, 300 ALREADY FACE WATER SHORTAGES.” (My capitals.)

This quote is from the book The Power of Geography, by Tim Marshall, published by Elliott and Thompson, 2021, pages 109 to 110:- The author tells us of “giant underground freshwater reservoirs found under the sands of the north and east of the country (ie:- Saudi Arabia) - - - Experts fear that FOUR FIFTHS OF THE WATER HAS BEEN USED, AND IT MAY RUN OUT IN THE 2030s.” (My capitals.)