Groundwater is a vital resource, yet its dynamics remain an enigma for scientists. Dr. Grant Ferguson, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan and a member of the Global Institute for Water Security, has spent years studying these complex underground systems.
Despite significant research, he believes that much of groundwater’s potential remains unexplored.
“Groundwater systems are extremely variable in space, leading to complex responses to climate fluctuations and pumping,” says Ferguson. “Studying these systems is challenging due to our limited number of windows into the subsurface.”
Ferguson and his colleagues highlighted the intricacies of groundwater and warned against oversimplifying its management, especially in the context of Earth system boundaries (ESBs).
These boundaries aim to limit resource use to maintain Earth’s stability.
But Ferguson stresses that the proposed boundaries for groundwater fail to consider the complex, long-established principles of groundwater hydrology.
The concept of ESBs is to establish safe limits to prevent environmental damage.
However, Ferguson points out that without a deep understanding of groundwater variability and the historical context of its use, such limits could inadvertently lead to significant water disparity.
Researchers call for better engagement with communities to ensure groundwater policy addresses local needs.This is especially concerning in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, where access to water is already a challenge.
“If we pass the proposed planetary boundary, that’s going to restrict access to these water resources to a lot of equity-deserving groups,” Ferguson warns.
“Without even stepping foot in that region, can we propose limits to that resource? We need to consider the community and how they view and use water.”
Ferguson advocates for a more inclusive approach to groundwater policy. He emphasizes the importance of involving local communities in discussions about resource management and suggests that scientists should work more closely with social scientists to better understand the needs of these populations.
“There are always more problems and always more work to do, and as physical scientists, we need to do a better job of engaging with communities and social scientists,” he said.
The message is clear: the underground world remains largely unexplored, and as Ferguson encourages, we must continue to question and study what lies beneath our feet, with careful consideration of its role in the larger environmental system.