Vast aquifer found in Namibia could last for centuries

[SoCalDem]

20 July 2012 Last updated at 05:15 ET
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18875385?splash
Vast aquifer found in Namibia could last for centuries
By Matt McGrath Science reporter, BBC World

Pressure from the aquifer means the water is cheap to extract

A newly discovered water source in Namibia could have a major impact on development in the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa. Estimates suggest the aquifer could supply the north of the country for 400 years at current rates of consumption.

Scientists say the water is up to 10,000 years old but is cleaner to drink than many modern sources. However, there are concerns that unauthorised drilling could threaten the new supply.
For the people of northern Namibia water is something that they either have too much of or too little. The 800,000 people who live in the area depend for their drinking water on a 40-year-old canal that brings the scarce resource across the border from Angola.

snip

[Smilo]

1. This is wonderful

and a great story to post considering the awfulness of the news lately - thank you SoCalDem.

What's the betting "unauthorised drilling" will be corporations trying to make a quick buck.

[malaise]

2. Wonderful news

Rec

[Motown_Johnny]

3. Damn, maybe there is a God.

Either that or some other country will now invade just to claim the water.

[originalpckelly]

4. Poor Namibia, water is like the new oil.

Although 2/3 of the surface of Earth is water, only 3% of that is freshwater. Most of which has been polluted.

Companies are genuinely looking into energy intensive ways of making water like desalination. Unfortunately, this discovery probably means they will head to Namibia and fuck it bad.

[justice1]

6. Nebraska is home to one of the largest aquifers in the world.

It provides 77% of the states drinking water, and 83% of the irrigation water... Trans-Canada is working to put the Keystone pipeline through it.

[azurnoir]

9. +1 n/t

[hobbit709]

5. "At current rates of consumption"

Want to bet on how fast it will get sucked out of the ground in the future. The problem with fossil water is the same as fossil fuel-once it's gone, it's gone.

[rfranklin]

7. Yep, they will start building swimming pools and golf courses and oops!

Drought again.

[drm604]

8. That was my first thought.

Current rates are based on a scarcity of water. Once it's no longer scarce, usage will skyrocket.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. Great!

[bluedigger]

11. Not now that they've found it, it won't.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. My thoughts exactly.