Hidden Aquifer Could Help Solve The Water Crisis
In a first-of-its-kind research expedition, a team extracted thousands of water samples from an unlikely source: a hidden aquifer that is thought to stretch from New Jersey to Maine.
The research expedition is following up on a discovery made nearly 50 years ago, when a U.S. government ship drilled into the seafloor and found fresh water. Now, scientists want to know exactly where the water originated from, and how it can be used to solve the world’s growing water scarcity problem.
In early 2023, experts warned that we are facing an unprecedented water crisis, and that global freshwater demand will exceed supplies by 40% by 2030.
While the discovery of this hidden aquifer could be a promising step in combating water scarcity, it will likely take years before the water can be brought to public use. First, it must be determined how to extract the water, who would own it, and whether it’s even safe for human consumption.
“The water may contain minerals detrimental to human health since it percolated through layers of sediments,” said Jocelyne DiRuggiero, a biologist from Johns Hopkins University.
With the 13,209 gallons of water collected, researchers will now work on sequencing DNA extracted from the samples to identify which microorganisms are present. Dating the water will be critical in determining whether it can be used.
The researchers will plan to meet again after six months of lab analysis to review their findings and decide on next steps. Depending on the results, it’s quite possible that this hidden aquifer could be a critical step forward in confronting global water scarcity.