Freshwater supplies dwindling due to human activity, studies find

Two significant studies reveal how human demand and technological advancements are rapidly depleting the planet's freshwater resources.

Andrew Nikiforuk reports for The Tyee.

In short:

• Human activities, including damming, deforestation, and irrigation, are altering the global water cycle, impacting soil moisture and streamflow.
• Groundwater in 71% of the world's aquifers is declining, accelerated by climate change and increased extraction for agriculture and consumption.
• Efforts to conserve water often result in increased consumption elsewhere, exacerbating the crisis.

Key quote:

The technosphere respects no limits and unlike previous civilizations holds nothing sacred — not even a mountain watershed.

— Andrew Nikiforuk, The Tyee

Why this matters:

As freshwater resources dwindle, there's a direct impact on food and water security globally, necessitating sustainable practices in the face of escalating environmental challenges. The planet is losing free-flowing rivers. This is a problem.