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]]>Groundwater is one of the major freshwater sources for Las Vegas. However, the extraction has increased several times in recent years, reaching 86 million cubic meters. This annual rate exceeds by more than three times the natural recharge potential. This fact, together with growing fears of groundwater contamination, threatens the city’s water supply. The quality of the water beneath the surface is endangered by pipe leaks, drains, septic systems, and neglect of basic processes. During the hot season (June to September), around a quarter of the daily supply comes from groundwater wells.
Most of the shallow aquifer lies within 50 feet under the surface in the Las Vegas Valley. In previous decades the flow was more than sufficient, fueled by snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains. However, the rapidly increased population of Las Vegas and huge crowds of gamblers every year caused an overpumping, which can lead to irreversible consequences. Water levels in the reservoirs of Lake Powell and Lake Mead are already under the midline.
But apart from the issues with groundwater mining, the people of Las Vegas face another problem – the increase in the water needs! The city and industry have always been blamed for wasting this precious resource for entertaining the numerous gamblers and tourists swarming its hotels and casinos every week. Some might say that the main reason is the neverending demographic growth, and they would be right! However, the constant drive to increase GDP per capita is the more likely cause!
Anyway, both reasons should be irrelevant given the fact that Las Vegas is located in the middle of the Mojave desert! A unique one indeed, with an underground, heavily supplied by the Colorado River, but still a desert! Although the industry doesn’t agree with the accusations of wasting water, it’s a fact that they are the only entities that do not reduce its use. For example, the annual median consumption per household decreased to under 101,000 gallons in 2019. In 2020, it was already around 81,000 and under 75,000 gallons in 2021.
Groundwater wells are a major source of freshwater, but luckily not the only ones. In 2021, it was responsible for around 10% of the total area supply. Even with threateningly low levels, Mead Lake, Tule Springs Lake, and several others serve as reservoirs of freshwater. Each one is mainly supplied by the Poudre Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park through the Colorado River. Finally, Las Vegas captures around 99% of all the in-door used water, treats, and recycles it!
Certainly, one of the most effective ways to reduce water use and stop overpumping groundwater is to reduce tourist flow. Since most people come to the Entertainment Capital of the World to gamble, the licensing and regulation of online casino sites and virtual sportsbooks is a possible solution. Although not closely monitored by the Nevada Gaming Commission, both are perfectly legal. Hundreds of casino and bookmaker sites are accessible from the territory of the state.
On the other hand, online gambling has always been seen as an alternative to brick-and-mortar casinos and not as a competitor. It’s much more fun to visit a land-based facility and enjoy your holiday, and with so many at hand in Las Vegas, the online playing platforms are left aside. So, along with market regulation, additional measures will be needed so that this change can really affect the water supply. In any case, the pros of licensing the gambling sites in Las Vegas undoubtedly outweigh the cons!
There was a study back in 2008 according which Las Vegas will run dry in 13 years (2021) unless the water usage is cut down. Well, it was not, and for some years, it was heavily increased. As a result, the households are starting to suffer the consequences. The desert has not dried up, at least not completely. However, groundwater pumping must be limited to levels that nature can restore. There is much that can be done by the City Council, the business, and the Las Vegas residents. Innovations can help as well as systems for outdoor water capturing and recycling.
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]]>The over-extraction of groundwater can cause the depletion of the aquifer before it’s naturally restored by rainfall and absorption. This can cause a shortage in the water supply of a few families or entire towns.
While some aquifers maintain their water volume, it can be affected by other factors. Contamination is a major issue as it’s hard to control and predict. Aquifers are formed by wayward rock formations and pathways.
An aquifer can be contaminated for various reasons, from a badly sealed domestic well to an oil leak or proximity to chemical substances. This article intends to summarize the basic issues of groundwater contamination and present potential solutions.
Despite being one of the main sources of fresh water, groundwater is subject to numerous potential threats. Unless proper action is taken, these threats can seriously affect many people’s water supply. Contamination can come from different places and sources:
We can find air contamination, urban waste, or even runoffs from streets and parking lots at the surface. Agriculture and fertilizers’ waste is also a concerning contamination factor as these substances find their way into the deeper water layers.
Below the surface, other substances endanger the groundwater’s quality:
These elements mainly contaminate the area below the surface, i.e., the non-saturated zone. However, in some circumstances, they can also reach deeper and affect the aquifer itself. The 3D animation below represents different ways in which the water supply can be contaminated.
Some factors, like saline intrusion, affect both the non-saturated and saturated zones. This usually happens in aquifers located near coastal areas.
The key issue here is the over-mining of the groundwater resources. If too much liquid is withdrawn before it can be restored through precipitations, the spare space will start to fill with seawater.
Contrary to the previous case presented, this type of contamination starts from the bottom and moves upwards, while the aquifer is progressively salinized.
To solve the water crisis and groundwater contamination issues, we need to understand the problem. Studying the geological characteristics of the area becomes vital. Water travels very slowly within the ground, and its velocity depends on the rock porosity and permeability of the soil. Hence, pumping devices extract water much faster than it can be restored through percolation. In line with this, cleaning and decontamination processes can only be carried out very slowly.
Although there is no definitive solution for groundwater contamination, we can find different approaches that address this issue.
Technology can bring effective solutions for the decontamination of aquifers. It also can help to create more effective ways of water usage. While these solutions can help design a sustainable water supply system, they can also create other problems.
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]]>Such a well can supply the water needs of a whole family. But the well in itself is not enough. While it pumps the water out of the ground, it can´t store it or distribute it across the house. For this, a whole water system needs to be installed. It must regulate the water pressure, pipe the water throughout the supply points, and store it.
In the past, people used to dig wells with their own hands, but now it’s a different story. Domestic water systems are built by specialists that analyze the surroundings, choose the right materials and devices, and contemplate the environmental regulations.
Building a well is no easy task. It requires lots of planning and accurate drilling procedures. But the trickiest part is maintenance and quality control. In the US, for example, nearly 15 percent of the population relies on domestic wells to cover their water needs.
State or federal laws do not regulate these self-supplied groundwater systems. Therefore, the well owners are responsible for testing the composition of the water and determining its quality. The USGS has a special program to investigate the quality of the water pumped from these types of wells to prevent potential health hazards.
The typical domestic water system consists of 6 main elements: The well, the tank, the casing, the screen, the pump, and the tank.
Wells are usually 200-feet deep and drilled with special equipment. To prevent surface water filtrations, the drill hole is covered by a casing that also stops the hole from caving in.
Wells that are built on crumbly soil or sand need a well screen, whose main function is to keep sand and rock particles out of the well. It’s a strainer-like cylinder that acts as a filter. This device is installed at the bottom of the casing. Contractors will choose the right screen size considering the characteristics of the aquifer, i.e., rock fragment sizes, soil type, etc.
One of the most important elements is the pump, which is the device that makes groundwater mining possible. This is generally an electric submersible appliance that’s installed directly inside the well. Its engine activates impellers that push the water upwards towards the surface.
Once it reaches the house, the liquid is stored in a pressurized tank. From here, it’s directed to specific points of the house like the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. The tank works as a water storage but not only. It’s responsible for regulating the water pressure, so it reaches the faucets, shower, etc.
The tank regulates the well’s behavior and water availability. When it has enough liquid to supply the household, the pump will stop working. When the water level decreases into a certain range, the pump starts to run and fills the tank again.
The video below shows a graphic of a domestic well-based water system. It includes detailed information about the system’s elements and their functionality.
What to consider when building a well to supply a household? These are some of the aspects homeowners must consider:
The latest point is the most important one. Homeowners must consult with a specialist before drilling. It’s vital to know the regulations that apply, the availability and reliability of groundwater in the area, and the safest drilling point. The contractor will inform about the permits required, the current environmental restrictions, and mandatory construction standards.
When choosing the well location, the contractor will consider the soil’s characteristics, water availability, and potential contamination sources nearby. Based on previous experiences, he/she can advise on the well’s depth and prospective yields.
If the soil has low yields due to low permeability or other factors, the well must be deeper. Thus, it will have the capacity to meet a family’s water needs. Generally, all wells can supply a household. Yet, not all of them can afford to supply a garden and lawn irrigation system.
No matter what drilling technique we use, the well always needs a casing. This is a steel or plastic pipe that protects the well’s hole from caving in or being contaminated. The materials are chosen according to the area’s geological conditions and the chemical composition of the local water.
But the diameter of the hole is usually a few inches wider than the diameter of the casing, leaving a space. This space is filled with cement or bentonite, a special clay used for this purpose. This filling is called ‘grout’ and prevents surface water from filling the space between the hole and the casing and traveling downwards. Surface water and other external agents may contaminate the aquifer. For this reason, the well must always remain sealed by a well cap.
With all intakes in place and devices installed, the well is back washed to remove any loose fragments. This procedure stabilizes the adjacent area and is called ‘developing the well’.
The misuse of groundwater withdrawal can cause environmental damages, affect neighboring water supplies, and contaminate the aquifers. Homeowners are responsible for checking the water quality and correct functioning of the system at least once a year. Many laboratories offer water samples and instructions to fulfill this task. We highly recommend having the installations revised by an expert regularly.
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]]>While aquifers are renewed through the hydrologic cycle, this process can take years. In this context, finding a balance between extraction and replenishment is vital to keep this supply available in the near future.
The freshwater sources have been decreasing as the population increased and agriculture developed. In the past decades, environmentalists and scientists have warned us about the dangers of water supply misuse. Statistics published by the World Bank show a dramatic decline in water supply per capita from 1965 to 2015. In half a century, freshwater resources decreased from roughly 13.5 million cubic meters to less than 6 million.
One-quarter of the world’s freshwater comes from aquifers. The rest is found in glaciers, lakes, rivers, and atmospheric vapor. Groundwater withdrawal is one of the most accessible freshwater sources for human beings. These reservoirs are formed through the hydrologic cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.
Hence, the water that’s not evaporated penetrates through the surface and travels across the subsoil layers, forming large ‘water pools’. Nowadays, these are estimated to be 10-million-km3 long. Although groundwater may be the solution to the water crisis, there are still many issues to resolve.
Scientists are facing many challenges concerning groundwater and its withdrawal methods. Overuse and depletion of these underground pools can cause the following issues:
The depletion of groundwater resources is a major concern and it’s already visible in some regions like the United Arab Emirates, India, and California in the US. Due to the climate conditions, these regions are heavily dependent on groundwater to support agriculture.
We haven’t been able to find accurate statistics about Africa, but groundwater misuse in this continent is a major concern, especially in large cities. Boreholes and wells are increasingly being used both for domestic uses and industrial purposes.
Next, we analyze the above-mentioned consequences of groundwater withdrawal misuse.
This can create water shortages and cause some wells to dry. Hence, water must be pumped from deeper wells or boreholes that extract water from below the water table. This generates higher withdrawal costs and causes land subsidence.
Excessive withdrawal without proper replenishment can decrease the water level of aquifers. This causes the land to subside, endangering buildings and town infrastructure. The lower water level affects the soil’s inner structure, causing many issues like pipe damaging, sinkholes, and cracking house walls.
The next piece of news states that the ground in San Joaquin Valley, California, is decreasing by 1 foot a year.
As the water table decreases, extraction becomes more difficult. Owners will have to deepen their wells or create new ones to be able to reach their water supply. In the case of boreholes, they will require more energy to be able to pump the water all the way to the surface. This causes a significant increase in power, resources, and expenses.
Excessive pumping can lead to changes in ecosystems. Aquifers are connected to surface water sources, therefore, significant changes in groundwater levels can affect the water flows of lakes, streams, and even wetlands. Also, the surface water level can be reduced significantly.
Depletion of groundwater in coastal areas can cause a saltwater intrusion into the confined aquifers. This would ruin a major source of freshwater mainly used by corporations and industrial miners. Another alarming issue is the unregulated construction of wells and boreholes. If the water supply is contaminated by gasoline, chemicals, or septic tanks, it can cause epidemics and other health hazards.
The water level reduction of aquifers is a complex matter. While many people think that aquifers are plain underground pools that cover a large extension, this is not always the case. In such a geographic disposition, the water level is reduced evenly and replenished through precipitations anywhere across the area. Thus, all residents have the same access to recharged sources. They also share the same shortage issues.
Yet, other types of soil conditions generate different kinds of aquifers. Some of them have been created by a complicated rock structure and layers of different permeability. This created underground reservoirs of different depths, sizes, dispositions, and volumes.
Under such conditions, the rainfall reloads are not shared equally by all landowners. Due to the complex soil characteristics, permeability variations, and connecting pathways, the alteration of water level is hard to measure or even predict.
It becomes difficult to compare the water sources from wells in proximity. While one neighbor may have plenty of water available, the other may experience a shortage. This is because they are drawing from different depths. Even if they are pumping at the same depth, the soil may have dissimilar permeability. In such conditions, it’s hard to estimate if one neighbor’s usage is affecting the other neighbor’s supply.
The same applies to recharging rates. The permeability of a rock is measured by its capacity to let water pass. The more permeability, the easier it’s for water to travel across the ground and reach the aquifer. In this scenario, it’s almost impossible to estimate supply levels in the future and lay out a provisioning strategy.
There are millions of cubic kilometers of freshwater lying below us. Although groundwater extraction is a promising approach, there are still many issues to resolve and challenges to overcome.
One thing remains clear: If humans don’t find a way to balance the withdrawal/replenishment ratio, we risk endangering yet another valuable source for our survival.
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]]>The United Nations has reported that there are 10 million cubic kilometers of underground water across the world. While groundwater constitutes only 1.7% of the planet’s water resources, it represents 30% of drinkable water. For this reason, many see a possibility to support sustainability through underwater extraction. But this task presents many challenges. One of the main ones is the capability to refill the water faster than it’s removed.
A variety of factors conditions the groundwater movements:
The subterranean water sources are formed by rain. Precipitations may fall on the ocean, rivers, lakes, i.e., surface water, or on the soil. Thus, some of the raindrops evaporate while others percolate and sink into the subsurface through the Earth’s porosity, crevices, and cracks. The liquid travels until it finds layers of solid impermeable rock and is collected in underground ‘pools’ called aquifers.
This process has been repeated for many years, creating large extensions of water storages below the Earth’s surface. Although it may seem unlikely, groundwater does not remain still. It moves according to the above-mentioned factors.
The velocity depends on the soil’s permeability and the resistance the liquid finds when it moves. Also, it depends on the amount of space that exists between the sub-surface’s materials. This quality is called ‘porosity’.
Water can exist for centuries in the deepest ground layers without accessing the surface.
There are two main types of aquifers: confined and unconfined.
Unconfined aquifer: These aquifers are in contact with the atmosphere through a layer of porous soil. The first water layer is called the ‘water table’, and its depth depends on the geographical conditions.
These aquifers are nourished by precipitations or streams. The water infiltrates through the soil forming an underground reservoir. This water is accessed only through pumping.
Confined aquifer: This is water trapped in a soil ‘sandwich’. In other words, it’s confined between two layers of solid impermeable rock. Thanks to the force of gravity, the liquid travels from the surface through an inclined plane, creating a high level of pressure. This pressure is usually enough to push the water back up; like in the case of a well. The water extracted from this method is called ‘Artesian water’. Please see a detailed explanation of confined and unconfined aquifers in the video below.
Groundwater is a very important natural resource. In 2005, groundwater accounted for 20% of the total world extraction. Also, 23% of freshwater was withdrawn from the subsoil. Although this water can contain saline elements, this accounted for only 4% of the total groundwater extraction in 2005. If we do the math, we can see that over 95% of the water withdrawn from underground is drinkable.
While extraction is expensive, it remains vital for dry zones with minimum access to surface water. The expenses and energy costs are worth it when it comes to meeting a town’s daily water needs. Since the 50s, groundwater has contributed steadily to the water supply. And, although the population increased significantly, this technology remained stable, even showing a slight decrease by 13% since 2005 and towards 2010.
But public supply is not the only use society gives to subsoil water reserves. 65% of withdrawals are used for irrigation, while only 19% is used for town supplies, especially drinking water. Other uses present a much smaller percentage. These include agriculture, domestic and industrial use, mining, and thermoelectric.
Let’s not forget that, for a large sector, groundwater is the only access to drinkable water. They use wells to provide water for their daily needs, thus being a vital life source. 99% of self-supplied water comes from underground sources.
On the other hand, the thermoelectric use of water comes mainly from surface sources. It’s mostly used for cooling equipment and driving turbines.
Undoubtedly, this resource constitutes a major water supply not only for industries but also for people. Groundwater withdrawal supports and meets the daily needs of many cities. Especially those located in areas where surface water is difficult to access.
With the increasing population and environmental crisis, subterranean aquifers can make a difference when it comes to life support and sustainability.
Yet, some issues remain to be solved, like costs, ground pollution, and fast-paced replenishment.
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]]>While 71% of the planet’s surface is covered with water, only a small percentage is suitable for drinking. Only three percent of this amount is freshwater and is mostly locked up in glaciers, atmospheric vapor, and the soil.
The fresh water available for human consumption is mostly in surface water, i.e., lakes, rivers, creeks, and streams. This water is also responsible for keeping the ecosystems alive.
But there is another important source, and this is our blog’s main topic: groundwater. This is water that came from precipitations and runoffs and percolated into the soil, forming underground water reservoirs. The ground acts like a sponge, absorbing water and storing it within the rocks’ openings and cracks.
The importance of this resource cannot be underrated. Nearly 50% of the world’s population depends on groundwater, and this is a vital supply for those who live in dry areas with no access to rivers and lakes. Only in the United States, groundwater accounts for 40% of the water used for bathing, drinking, or irrigation.
Some large cities depend on groundwater almost entirely. 95% of the people in Mexico City, for example, rely on groundwater for their basic water needs. In Denmark, 99% of the drinking water comes from aquifers.
While surface water accounts for 0.8% of the planet’s total water volume, groundwater equals 1.7%. Yet, for obvious reasons, groundwater is harder and more expensive to extract. Many mining systems provide water to both single families and whole populations.
Groundwater is the major freshwater source, but it presents many challenges. It can be difficult to detect its location, availability, and use. In many cases, future supply, shortage, and availability are hard to predict due to geological conditions.
Nearly 800 million people don’t have access to fresh water. Also, the amounts used to supply the increasing population, soil irrigation, and agriculture activity are contributing to the scarcity of this essential element.
This shortage can be produced by different factors like physical scarcity or institutional incompetence. Some areas don’t have physical access to water due to geological and climatic conditions. In other cases, the water can be extracted but the authorities fail to provide a reliable supply system.
Moreover, the use of water has increased significantly over the last century. This growth equals twice the rate of the population increase. Water is used for daily needs, livestock, irrigation, and industrial purposes. The development of civilization and increased population have made the need for water even greater than before. Still, the water sources are not recharging as fast as our thirst for it. Parallelly, global warming is going to generate more droughts.
Water is polluted due to a variety of factors. The main pollution source for surface water is human waste. The improper disposal of sewage sludge into rivers, especially in third-world countries, may lead to fast contamination of the water source.
Groundwater is not safe from pollution and environmental hazards. It can be affected by chemical waste, oil leaks, septic tanks, and saline water. In the same way that raindrops percolate into the ground, pollutants can make their way into aquifers affecting large water sources.
These problems call for urgent solutions. Igrac’s blog intends to feature relevant content about groundwater, issues, news, facts, and potential solutions. Readers can find topics like:
Our foundation is committed to broadcasting information on groundwater and making people aware of its importance.
Welcome to Igrac’s blog, where you will find the hottest topics on aquifers, wells, groundwater flows, safe extraction methods, regulations, land subsidence, Artesian water, groundwater uses, and locations. We encourage our readers to leave their comments and send us questions and ideas.
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