In most places where the Living Water Project has worked, wells drilled to groundwater are the primary means of a clean water source. But overuse is a serious issue, making it even more difficult to reach the groundwater supply. As the groundwater in an area is depleted, the water table lowers and can drop too low to be serviced by an existing well. In other scenarios, lowering of the water table can require an excessive amount of energy and resources to pump the groundwater to the surface. This can make such projects cost-prohibitive.

Groundwater and surface water are connected—when groundwater is subjected to overuse, the connected lakes, streams and rivers can also be diminished. Soil compaction or collapse and saltwater intrusion in coastal areas can also impact groundwater. Saltwater intrusion occurs as groundwater is depleted to the point that saltwater moves inland and contaminates fresh water supplies.

Read other blog posts about groundwater in our World Water Day 2022 series.