Five facts you might not know about groundwater

Groundwater is the most abundant freshwater source, supporting 40% of irrigated crop production and over 25% of the global population's drinking water. However, it is being consumed at unsustainable rates, with 20% of river basins currently overdrafted and over 50% at risk by 2050. Over-extraction leads to saltwater intrusion, dried-up wells, and land subsidence. Sustainable management requires measuring extraction, setting volumetric caps, and implementing natural or managed recharge solutions, as demonstrated by the Edwards Aquifer in Texas.

• Groundwater is the most abundant freshwater source available to humans, with a volume more than 30 times that of all combined surface water sources, although it represents less than 1% of all Earth's water.
• Groundwater is essential for food security, providing nearly 40% of irrigation water for crops, yet one-quarter of irrigated food production globally relies on unsustainable extraction.
• Over-extraction of groundwater threatens freshwater ecosystems and river basins; 20% of river basins are currently overdrafted, and more than half are projected to be at risk by 2050.
• The depletion of groundwater leads to several environmental and structural risks, specifically saltwater intrusion in coastal areas, the failure of residential wells, and land subsidence caused by weakened geological layers.
• Sustainable groundwater management can be achieved through measuring and managing local data, setting extraction caps, enhancing recharge through nature-based solutions, and reducing demand.

APA

WWF International (n.d.). Five facts you might not know about groundwater. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/five-facts-you-might-not-know-about-groundwater/

Chicago

WWF International. Five facts you might not know about groundwater. n.d. https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/five-facts-you-might-not-know-about-groundwater/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Five facts you might not know about groundwater |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/five-facts-you-might-not-know-about-groundwater/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternationalndfive, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Five facts you might not know about groundwater}}, institution = {WWF International}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/five-facts-you-might-not-know-about-groundwater/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }