Groundwater
is only one part of the water cycles: Worldwide, continental,
regional, local water cycles surround us and can be forced or
destroyed. Sometimes these water cycles don‘t seem to be
visible – and groundwater is rarely visible. Water cycles are
connected to other cycles such as carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle,
phosphorous cycle, sulfur cycle. Water cycles are even
connected to energy flows and transfers.
Groundwater
is the only freshwater resource in big parts of the world. It
is needed for drinking water supply and for irrigation of
plants.
Groundwater
is in steady contact with the geology around. Rock-water
interaction is not only reduced to flow processes but it serves
also for solution, transport of solutes, biodegradation, and
precipitation of minerals.
Groundwater
is overexploited in big parts of the world resulting in
decrease of groundwater levels, drying vegetation, dying
animals and people of thirst.
Groundwater
is not always suitable for use: Saltwater intrusions,
hydrothermal processes, contaminations from natural sources
like Arsenic and Fluorides, and contaminations from wastewater
and contaminated sites deteriorate one of our most important
renewable resources.
Let‘s
improve conditions of life. Protect groundwater.
Water
also destroys life: Floods, heavy rainfall, melting of
glaciers. A good management and sustainable use of our
renewable resources includes the compartments atmosphere,
hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere.
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