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Growing Concerns Over Water Supply
Verified! Aquifers are dropping in levels in Florida, in 1999, the well I
use went dry. A new well was drilled at 250 feet, now in use. The
original well was a pipe in the ground 50 feet long and a giant hole
below it. The pump was at around 70-80 feet down and had been in use for
years.
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Open Polytechnic leads international research project
Monday, 19 February 2007, 3:54 pm
As sustainability experts express growing concern for
the quality of the world’s water supplies, an international research
team led by Dr Gregory De Costa from The Open Polytechnic of New
Zealand is investigating ways to help alleviate the situation both in
New Zealand and abroad.
Pressure on the world’s agriculture systems from increasing
populations and a rapid rise in industrialisation over recent years is
taking its toll on the world’s ground water supplies.
Some coastal aquifers are suffering from salt water intrusion, with
the deteriorating quality of fresh water supplies leading to potential
long term socio-economic issues as some countries struggle to irrigate
their agricultural crops.
Many ground water pumps in coastal areas are hydraulically linked to
sea water supplies to help manage the pressure of the pumping system.
When large amounts of ground water is withdrawn salt water can flow
back into the system, eventually affecting the quality of the water
supply.
“Salinity intrusion has become an emerging global issue,” confirms Dr
De Costa, a Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering in the Bachelor of
Engineering Technology at The Open Polytechnic.
Initially receiving a grant from the Asia Pacific Network (APN) in
2005 to investigate the problem, the international team of academics
from New Zealand, Japan, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan
recently received a US$69,000 funding boost from APN to develop
regional management strategies to help alleviate the problem based on
the data they collected in their earlier research.“As the world
continues to exploit its resources we are now seeing some cases of
irreversible damage to ground water supplies,” says Dr De Costa. “It
is a new phenomena, and many authorities around the globe are becoming
more aware of the problem and want to take action before its too
late.”
“Our initial funding saw the research team identify specific
problems such as degeneration in some aquifers because of the
unmanaged distribution of ground water extraction,” comments Dr De
Costa.
“With the increasing ease of using technology to source ground water
supplies around the world, more and more water is being pumped out on
a regular basis, with more and more pumps being placed at closer and
closer intervals, placing greater stress on the aquifers.”
“For example, in the Kalpitya area in Sri Lanka a lack of fresh water
supplies has resulted in a greater dependence on readily available
ground water resources. Because their ground water source is
hydraulically connected to the ocean it has become prone to salinity
intrusion – particularly during the dry season when there is a greater
demand for water.”
Closer to home, analysis of the Waiwhetu aquifer suggested that is
susceptible to salinity intrusion, with the Wellington Regional
Council keeping a close eye on the issue so that it can manage any
problems.
“The initial funding we received allowed the research team
to zero in on what types of work could be done to develop suitable
solutions to salinity intrusions in the different regions,” says Dr De
Costa
“The additional funding will now allow us to develop management
strategies which will be of interest to regional councils in the
research team’s home countries so that they can better manage the
issue.”
“I’m very pleased that Jessica Wilson, a lecturer in environmental
studies at The Open Polytechnic has been able to join the team. Her
expertise on environmental management issues is invaluable from a New
Zealand perspective.”
Dr De Costa, who has recently been appointed to the executive
committee of the International Association for Hydraulic Research –
Asia Pacific Division, says that the research team expects to build
strong international linkages with scientific organisations, industry,
and other researchers as a result of their work over the next few
years.
“The research team see this project as an exciting opportunity to be
able to contribute positively to preserving our environment, and to
extend the existing knowledge base on this increasing global problem,”
says Dr De Costa.
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The
The
Labors in the Spirits of
Science
Living on the Lost Planet 
