Groundwater is rapidly declining around the world, often at accelerating rates, the largest assessment of its kind involving almost 1,700 aquifers has shown.
The three-year study by researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that groundwater is dropping in more than two thirds, or 71 per cent, of the aquifers – in three times as many times places as would be expected by chance.
And this depletion is accelerating in many places. Having declined in the 1980s and 1990s, it has since sped up in the last two decades.
The study, which included 300 million water level measurements from 1.5 million wells over the past 100 years, found that groundwater deepening is more common in drier climates, with “accelerated decline” most common in arid and semi-arid lands under cultivation.
In some countries, such as Iran, groundwater declines are widespread.
Co-lead author Scott Jasechko, an associate professor in the university’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, told The National irrigation is likely to blame.
“Rapid and accelerating groundwater declines are widespread in many valleys across Iran, likely due in large part to intensive groundwater pumping for irrigation,” he said.
“The accelerating pace of groundwater declines in Iran raises questions about the viability of Iranian irrigated agriculture in the near future.”
Most aquifers where declines were accelerating are in places where conditions have become drier over the last 40 years, said the authors.
It is not all bad news, however.
In some regions – such as parts of Saudi Arabia – groundwater levels have stabilised, or even recovered.
“In central Saudi Arabia, groundwater levels have declined for decades as groundwater was pumped for irrigation, but there is emerging evidence that these declines may be slowing down in central Saudi Arabia following policy changes,” said Mr Jasechko.
He added: “The study shows that humans can turn things around with deliberate, concentrated efforts.”
The study found that declines of the 1980s and ’90s had reversed in 16 per cent of the aquifer systems the authors had historical data for.
However, they said those cases are only half as common as would be expected by chance.
The problem can be halted or even reversed by reducing demand, using regulations, permitting and fees for groundwater use, said the study authors.
In Bangkok, groundwater level declines of the 1980s and 1990s were reversed by regulations designed to reduce groundwater pumping, according to the authors.
Spain has seen some success with levels in several aquifers having rebounded.
Progress has also been made in Australia, where levels in some aquifers have rebounded and are even rising.
In South Africa, levels of some aquifers have rebounded but in some places groundwater depletion is accelerating.
The picture is also mixed in the US.
Groundwater has depleted in some areas but is rising again in others. The study highlights a depleted aquifer near Tucson, Arizona, which is being refilled by water diverted from the Colorado River moved hundreds of kilometres by canals.
The UAE’s aquifers were not included in the study.
But the government has been working to reverse the decline in the country’s groundwater resources. In 2019, it was revealed that levels had fallen by as much as 14 metres in Liwa Crescent, south of the capital, in 12 years.
Last year Abu Dhabi introduced a policy to protect its groundwater, which aims to decrease extraction by up to 650 million cubic metres by 2030.
Groundwater constitutes 60 per cent of the total water used in the emirate, mainly in agriculture to irrigate crops.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
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In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
UAE's final round of matches
- Sep 1, 2016 Beat Japan 2-1 (away)
- Sep 6, 2016 Lost to Australia 1-0 (home)
- Oct 6, 2016 Beat Thailand 3-1 (home)
- Oct 11, 2016 Lost to Saudi Arabia 3-0 (away)
- Nov 15, 2016 Beat Iraq 2-0 (home)
- Mar 23, 2017 Lost to Japan 2-0 (home)
- Mar 28, 2017 Lost to Australia 2-0 (away)
- June 13, 2017 Drew 1-1 with Thailand (away)
- Aug 29, 2017 v Saudi Arabia (home)
- Sep 5, 2017 v Iraq (away)
AUSTRALIA SQUADS
ODI squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
Twenty20 squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
More on Quran memorisation:
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
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Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
