Aquifers
...aquifer depletion has spread from a small number of isolated spots to what now seems like whole continents. Depletion of aquifers has spread so rapidly that it is now a problem in central and northern China, northwest and southern India, parts of Pakistan, much of the western United States, North Africa, much of the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula (Worldwatch Institute 41). India has been rated as the number one country for the most water depletion in a year. Annually they have a water deficit of 104.0 billion cubic meters. In fact, in India the situation got so bad that in September of 1996 the Supreme Court sent one of the nation’s premier research centers to examine the severe drop in water tables. NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) found that the over use of groundwater was widespread and that the water tables were falling at a very alarming rate. Today, there are nine Indian states that are overusing their water supply (Worldwatch Institute 41). India is not the only one with big problems. The second highest water depleted country is the worlds’ largest grain producer, China. “One-fifth of China's river water is too polluted for irrigation, much less for drinking” (Geographical 1). Annually their water depletion measures at around 30.0 billion cubic meters. This means that China’s water tables are dropping one to one-and-a-half meters a year. In fact, the water deficit that has been predicted for the year 2025 is enough to grow fifty-five million tons of grain. That is fourteen percent of China’s current consumption of grain, and more than a quarter of the world exports (The Worldwatch Institute, 42). Surprisingly enough, the United States is ranked third for depletion of aquifers. It has been estimated that the U.S. has a water deficit of 13.6 billion cubic meters a year. California alone is responsible for 1.6 billion cubic meters. Yet, California isn’t even the worst case. The Ogallala, one of the world’s greatest aquifers, is being depleted at 12 billion cubic meters a year. That is equivalent to the annual flow of eighteen Colorado Rivers. Most of the Ogallala depletion occurs in Texas. If this rate of depletion is held until the year 2020, it is estimated that 1.2 hectares will either be dry farmland or abandoned (Worldwatch Institute 43). The depletion of aquifers ...