doi: 10.62486/latia202583
Navigating the Paradox: Climate Change, Cutting-Edge Technologies, and Groundwater Sustainability
Navegando el Paradoxo: Cambio Climático, Tecnologías de Vanguardia y Sostenibilidad del Agua Subterránea
Petros Chavula¹
*, Fredrick
Kayusi² *, Linety Juma3
1Africa Centre of Excellence for Climate-Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation, Haramaya University. Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
2Department of Environmental Sciences, School of Environmental and Earth Sciences, Pwani University. Kilifi, Kenya.
3Department of Curriculum Instruction and Educational Technology, School of Education, Pwani University. Kilifi, Kenya.
Cite as: Chavula P, Kayusi F, Juma L. Navigating the Paradox: Climate Change, Cutting-Edge Technologies, and Groundwater Sustainability. LatIA. 2023; 1:83. https://doi.org/10.62486/latia202583
Submitted: 23-04-2023 Revised: 16-08-2023 Accepted: 12-12-2023 Published: 13-12-2023
Editor:
PhD.
Rubén González Vallejo
Corresponding author: Fredrick Kayusi *
ABSTRACT
This article explores the paradoxical relationship between climate change, advanced technologies, and groundwater sustainability. It highlights how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) offer innovative solutions for optimizing groundwater management while addressing climate change impacts. However, the chapter also warns of the environmental risks associated with these technologies, particularly their energy consumption and e-waste generation, which can further exacerbate climate challenges. The chapter examines practical applications such as desalination, precision farming, and water harvesting, evaluating their contributions to groundwater management and their environmental footprints. It argues that the net impact of these technologies depends largely on their design, implementation, and governance frameworks. The research identifies best practices to maximize benefits while minimizing negative environmental consequences. This work addresses key issues of water scarcity and the need for sustainable water supplies in a changing climate. It underscores the importance of fresh water for essential industries, including agriculture, energy production, and mineral processing, while acknowledging the profound effects of climate change and societal shifts on traditional water sources. The chapter also discusses the risks associated with technological investments in water management, such as toxic waste emissions, geopolitical tensions, and corruption. It emphasizes that emissions from these processes contribute significantly to rising atmospheric temperatures and water vapor levels, intensifying climate change. The chapter concludes by advocating for a holistic approach to water management, balancing the costs, benefits, and risks of emerging technologies. It highlights the potential of green engineering advancements and efficient water treatment methods, such as desalination and cleaner urban designs, to sustainably provide fresh groundwater for various uses. The chapter integrates data analytics from engineering and public health performance metrics to establish safe industry targets and calls for responsible governance to ensure technologies contribute positively to both groundwater sustainability and climate change mitigation.
Keywords: Climate Change; Groundwater Sustainability; Cutting-Edge Technologies; Innovation; Environmental Impact; Water Management; Sustainability.
RESUMEN
Este artículo explora la relación
paradójica entre el cambio climático, las tecnologías avanzadas y la
sostenibilidad del agua subterránea. Destaca cómo tecnologías emergentes como
la inteligencia artificial, blockchain y el Internet de las Cosas (IoT) ofrecen
soluciones innovadoras para optimizar la gestión del agua subterránea y abordar
los impactos del cambio climático. Sin embargo, también advierte sobre los
riesgos ambientales asociados a estas tecnologías, en particular su consumo de
energía y la generación de residuos electrónicos, que pueden agravar los
desafíos climáticos. El capítulo examina aplicaciones prácticas como la
desalinización, la agricultura de precisión y la captación de agua, evaluando
sus contribuciones a la gestión del agua subterránea y su huella ambiental.
Sostiene que el impacto neto de estas tecnologías depende en gran medida de su
diseño, implementación y marcos de gobernanza. La investigación identifica
mejores prácticas para maximizar los beneficios y minimizar las consecuencias
ambientales negativas. Este trabajo aborda problemas clave como la escasez de
agua y la necesidad de suministros sostenibles en un clima cambiante. Subraya
la importancia del agua dulce para industrias esenciales, como la agricultura,
la producción de energía y el procesamiento de minerales, al tiempo que
reconoce los profundos efectos del cambio climático y los cambios sociales en
las fuentes de agua tradicionales. También analiza los riesgos asociados con
las inversiones tecnológicas en la gestión del agua, como las emisiones de
desechos tóxicos, las tensiones geopolíticas y la corrupción. El capítulo
enfatiza que las emisiones derivadas de estos procesos contribuyen
significativamente al aumento de las temperaturas atmosféricas y los niveles de
vapor de agua, intensificando el cambio climático. Concluye abogando por un
enfoque holístico en la gestión del agua, equilibrando los costos, beneficios y
riesgos de las tecnologías emergentes. Resalta el potencial de los avances en
ingeniería verde y métodos eficientes de tratamiento de agua, como la
desalinización y el diseño urbano sostenible, para proporcionar agua
subterránea fresca de manera sostenible para diversos usos. El capítulo integra
análisis de datos de métricas de ingeniería y salud pública para establecer
objetivos seguros en la industria y hace un llamado a una gobernanza
responsable, asegurando que las tecnologías contribuyan positivamente tanto a
la sostenibilidad del agua subterránea como a la mitigación del cambio
climático.
Palabras clave: Cambio Climático; Sostenibilidad del Agua Subterránea; Tecnologías De Vanguardia; Innovación; Impacto Ambiental; Gestión del Agua; Sostenibilidad.
INTRODUCTION
The world is currently witnessing the perfect storm that climate change leads to long-term changes in precipitation patterns and short-term changes, i.e., increased meteorological variability. This is manifesting itself by endangering water supply security, thereby jeopardizing local and regional agricultural economies while spurring the increasing and rapid uptake of an array of cutting-edge technologies that can both exacerbate declining local groundwater resources and provide tools and strategies that can enhance sustainable groundwater management. Many of these technologies are radical advances over the course of the last decade, with the promise of many more in the years to come. This profound technological advancement couldn’t be timelier. Climate change describes a scenario wherein the frequency, severity, and intensity of meteorological events – storms, cyclones, droughts, floods – often change dramatically, both locally and regionally, with increasing global temperatures. Not only does climate variability increase, but the entire statistical distribution of meteorological events also changes.(1,2,3)
This increased variability, often locally with extended dry periods and intense rainfall, creates considerable internal tensions within traditional water storage and delivery systems designed to assure supply security in a world dominated by equable and modest relative humidity and temperature ranges. These systems tend to enlarge water supply imbalances, e.g., by leading to “profligate” water usage in well-irrigated times and places, and the draining of depleted and overdrawn water systems – the essence of the paradox of intensifying droughts through growing groundwater depletion. To this point, it might be well to recall a not too old expression: “The Canadians have 9 months of allotment and 3 months of road construction.” In such a paradoxical world, declining groundwater resources severely limit the reach of traditional municipal water systems, damage and dilate the existing water infrastructure, and pit ecological against agricultural demands for water resources.(4) They create obstacles that necessitate the use of sustainable groundwater management and new, cutting-edge green technologies that could simultaneously expand water supplies while increasing aquifer recharge – that is, approaches that synchronize groundwater supplies and demands.(5)
Competition for groundwater resources in dryland agricultural settings continues to escalate as demands increase with changing land ownership, evolving governance systems, and new cropping practices. Withdrawals of nonrenewable groundwater from the High Plains aquifer for center pivot sprinkler systems allow for economically significant corn production in the U.S. Central Plains region.(6,7,8) As corn replaces other, less intensive crops, the water consumption of irrigated corn has become a flashpoint signaling unsustainable groundwater use. A similar conflict is playing out in the west of New South Wales, near Goondiwindi, where a tenfold increase in the number of sprinklers over the last twenty years has driven a 30% increase in GHG emissions from cropping. Deploying genetically modified hybrids capable of re-synthesized photosynthesis allows for sugar and oil production in the late-arid environment but cannot be sustained as rainfall patterns change.(9,10,11)
The use of gene editing technologies propagates this reliance on increasingly scarce water while indifferent to the rights and responsibilities of new developments under the law. An international movement signals potential judicial, legislative, and regulatory challenges to the advancement of water-hungry, high-carbon, or carbon-dependent proprietary technologies.(2,12,13,14) On the one hand, gene editing technologies could be leveraged to develop a highly drought-tolerant alternative to center pivot sprinkler irrigation to increase agricultural reliability as one path to national or regional food and fuel security.(6,9,15,16) Mitigating the effects of climate change on crop yields remains possible if the technologies evolve in response to global scientific and policy cooperation, transparency, and consumer acceptance. On the other hand, the use of gene editing technologies in tandem with outdated irrigation systems could serve to concentrate control within large agribusiness interests and lead to the proliferation of commodity crops optimized for external resources – a situation with several analogies to intensive recycling and geologic sequestration of carbon-emitting processes, with new and potentially irreversible agricultural climate impacts.
Literature review
Groundwater resources are crucial for sustaining the ecosystems and societies across the world. This prominence would continue to increase amid rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns due to climate change. Nonetheless,(15) realizing the full potential of these resources in the wake of climate change remains an enduring challenge due to the disruption and chaos it causes in the effective distribution of precipitation resources across temporal and spatial scales.(9,11,17) Given these inherent challenges that are further exacerbated by the uncertainties in climate models and predictions,(18,19,20) technological innovation is crucial to maximize the use of this resource through improved quantification, management, and governance frameworks.(2,21,22)
This paper provides a short and selective review of the burgeoning literature that seeks to assess the heightened reliability and veracity of frequently employed geophysical and remote sensing techniques in quantifying groundwater resources. Our review of these techniques points to their improved capabilities that underpin the feasibility of the latest water policies and reforms proposed to foster sustainable water resource management and use.(19,23,24) The technological innovation also allows policymakers to combine groundwater recharge maps with dynamic economic models that incorporate the resultant water storage and extraction costs for various policy levers. These directions require further emphasis, given the enduring complexities associated with managing the economics and politics of water.(25,26,27)
Understanding the Paradox: Interplay of Climate Change and Groundwater Sustainability
Groundwater is extracted for irrigation, industry, and drinking purposes, and subsurface water bodies directly impact Earth’s energy balance,(28,29,30,31) biodiversity, and fertility. Incorporating mesoscale integrated observational systems, models, and decision-making approaches can bolster the sustainability of this finite resource. Models providing water shortfall or maximum safe yield projections can potentially dissuade extraction rates that are not sustainable over relevant timescales.(32) Moreover, the development of new technologies and methods that access renewable groundwater and also sequester, desalt, and remove selected constituents from it are critical to guaranteeing a future with sufficient freshwater.(33,34)
Conceptually, sustainable remedies to groundwater overdrafts are within reach, but they will not be deployed without broader recognition of groundwater’s importance in meeting present and future needs, as well as the preservation of its associated ecosystems and their services.(35,36) Recent reports indicate that the global demand for water will spike by 2050 due to climate change and population growth without substantial investments in water-energy-governance-society and technology systems whose goals are food, energy, and water security, and biodiversity preservation.(19,20) These stressors have led to the global freshwater crisis and associated paradoxes. Similar to the energy paradox, where the most indispensable substance, while finite, is also seen as abundant, the freshwater paradox occurs when water is extracted for use at a rate faster than it can be replenished. Energy, water, and agriculture are interconnected, and the security of each is essential to the security of all three; risks in one area can quickly create risks for the others.(18)
As an example of these interrelationships, emigrating humans in search of water, food, or employment can occur when water scarcity limits crop production.(22,37) Diverse disciplines are contributing to the realization that the preservation of nature’s contributions is as critical as the preservation of stocks and flows.
Innovative Technologies for Groundwater Management
Among these innovative technologies for aquifer characterization, the potential to address important issues in groundwater management has never been greater. There is a recognized global need to improve groundwater management for both quantity and quality. My overall goal here is to suggest integrating these cutting-edge technologies in innovative ways for sustainable management of irrigation in two or three separate research pursuits with highly qualified and collaborative scientific partners.(2) Furthermore, these three arenas for applications in integrated hydrogeophysical characterization and economic analysis for sustainable management of groundwater in agriculture are tightly interwoven, as in: (a) improved site characterization can lead to greater deployment of depth-variable and adaptive management; (b) reduced over-extraction increases the lifetime of the aquifer and its water quality by virtue of deeper water management; and (c) improved hydrogeophysics that have lower costs and less market risk can accelerate the acceptance of both site-specific management tools and innovative CMAs that promote efficient water management.(38)
Remote Sensing and GIS Applications
Cuts in funding for data collection, processing, and distribution, as well as other agency data delivery protocols, are damaging the future productivity and profitability of American agriculture by reducing stakeholder access to high-quality flooding and atmospheric data.(19,23) Increased investment in data acquisition, processing, and delivery will maximize net return and minimize risk to greenhouse gas mitigation, carbon sequestration, and ground and surface water storage opportunities. Modern agriculture and renewable energy assessment, threat observation, technology innovation, and application facilitated global warming and renewable energy assessment, mitigation, and sustainable profit increases.
Integrating remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) and data and technologies has recently led to an explosion of resources facilitating the investment and productivity of renewable energy and agriculture that helped US agriculture adapt and contribute to the mitigation and measurement of the impact of and response to greenhouse gas pollution levels.(8,39,40) Time series analysis, modeling, and climate surveillance enable improved agrometeorological predictions and the monitoring of spatial and temporal patterns needed to better manage response systems.(41,42) Data and preventive efforts support resource use optimization and greenhouse gas emission mitigation and determination of avoidable social costs. As the global commercial and general aviation income of science suggests, investment in remote sensing data is dwarfed by its potential net benefit.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a subset of computer science that includes machine learning, which enables computer systems to execute tasks with input data. Machine learning allows the system to revise its programs over time to maximize performance, just as human beings do on a continuous basis. There are various AI types, one of which is deep learning, where extensive neural network connections enable multiple processing layers to learn representations of data through a cascade of connected algorithms. AI has various applications, particularly those that deal with processing, managing, and interpreting large sets of data. Groundwater systems are particularly well-suited for AI and machine learning due to the wide range of data sources and types that capture diverse aspects of the hydrologic cycle and the hydrogeologic system. AI methods further provide opportunities to predict phenomena that are challenging with standard physics-based or probabilistic frameworks.(43,44,45)
However, expanded use of AI also draws scrutiny because of its potential biases, errors, and misinterpretations. The discrete and complex peak-to-peak-to-tail data that characterize hydrologic and other Earth system phenomena present challenges when used to train AI and other algorithms. Misuse of AI and machine learning can also build in vulnerabilities that can be exploited to alter outputs in dangerous, potentially clandestine ways.(46) AI contributes to the paradox through the potential for upstream, downstream, or unintended consequences of a proposed intervention, as well as for embedding displacement and other equity challenges into automated systems. Furthermore, we observe that AI and its machine learning variant enable technological optimism and justify policies that are not comprehensively vetted to ensure their long-term societal and economic viability. These frameworks and programs are permeating societies and economies faster than regulations, standards, and training programs are being developed and put in place to assure proper use and equitable deployment.
Policy Frameworks and Governance Mechanisms
Technological advancements are critical in driving energy transitions and achieving other geological-related targets. Large-scale implementation of technological advancements will require substantial financial investment and might involve associated costs. The pace of technological innovation that is attainable and associated costs are influenced by abating or promoting energy transition targets. As much as it might come across as logical, implementing climate policy may also result in advancing technological progress. Pre-existing policy frameworks, such as policies, taxation, and governmental rules, and allocated resources make it such that the concept of “technology” involves benefits that entail a wide range of motivations such as environmental benefits, capital, and employment.(47,48)
Attention and use of technology have experienced an unprecedented rise from policy circles. The scale of recent measures informed by technology has been overwhelmingly small and may be useful given the magnitude of measures required. In several occasions, adopting novel rather than currently existing technologies is a lot cheaper and more effective. The most substantial advances of the past century have convinced governments of the ability of technology or have managed to associate benefits to avoid harming development or growth. In addition to seeking a greener approach to growth, nations and organizations have established goals to be part of transition segments, especially with regards to technology or a desire to remain at the forefront of the desired transitions. Various questions still linger, such as “What purpose is served by seeking rapid technological progress?”, “At what level, and how quickly can technological advances substitute for mitigation policy commitments and energy-related measures?”, and “Would relying on rapid technological change for pursuing any mitigation policy goals be a logical course of action?”.(49,50)
Case Studies and Best Practices
Case Study 1: Desalination Technologies in the Middle East
Countries in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have invested heavily in desalination plants to address water scarcity. These plants convert seawater into potable water, providing a reliable water source in arid regions. However, the case study reveals that balancing desalination’s energy demands with sustainable practices is critical to reducing its carbon footprint. The integration of renewable energy sources like solar power into desalination processes is highlighted as a key solution to ensure long-term groundwater sustainability.
Case Study 2: Precision Farming in India
In India, precision farming techniques are being implemented to optimize water usage in agriculture. By using IoT sensors and AI-driven analytics, farmers can monitor soil moisture levels and reduce water wastage. The case study shows that precision farming not only conserves groundwater but also improves crop yields, contributing to food security. It emphasizes the need for supportive policies and infrastructure to scale these technologies in rural areas.
Case Study 3: Groundwater Recharge Projects in California
California has faced severe droughts in recent years, prompting the state to implement large-scale groundwater recharge projects. These projects involve capturing stormwater and directing it into aquifers to replenish depleted groundwater supplies. The case study illustrates the effectiveness of managed aquifer recharge in maintaining water levels and mitigating the impacts of drought. It highlights the importance of regulatory frameworks and community engagement in ensuring project success.
Case Study 4: Water Harvesting Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
In Sub-Saharan Africa, water harvesting systems are being used to provide communities with access to clean water. Simple technologies such as rainwater collection and storage systems have significantly improved water availability in remote areas. The case study demonstrates how low-cost, community-driven solutions can enhance groundwater sustainability and improve public health outcomes. It also underscores the role of NGOs and local governments in facilitating these initiatives.
Case Study 5: Coastal Groundwater Management in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has a long history of managing coastal groundwater to prevent seawater intrusion. By using managed groundwater withdrawals and monitoring systems, the country has successfully maintained freshwater supplies in coastal areas. This case study shows how proactive groundwater management can protect coastal communities from the impacts of sea-level rise. It highlights the need for continuous innovation and adaptive management strategies to address evolving climate challenges.
Case Study 6: Urban Water Recycling in Singapore
Singapore has implemented advanced urban water recycling systems to reduce its reliance on imported water. The country’s NEWater initiative treats wastewater to produce high-quality drinking water, demonstrating a sustainable approach to urban water management. The case study showcases how technological innovation, combined with strong institutional governance, can create a resilient water supply system. It emphasizes the importance of public acceptance and education in the success of such initiatives.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The rapid global development and deployment of climate-friendly technologies present a unique opportunity to stabilize over-exploited aquifers and potentially contribute to broader climate stabilization efforts. This chapter outlines specific sustainability targets aimed at addressing global water shortages and ensuring the provision of safe drinking water. By balancing the consumption and resupply within the hydrologic cycle, the proposed strategies emphasize a sustainable approach to meeting water demands without further depleting finite groundwater resources.
Setting universal water sustainability targets is essential to protecting groundwater-dependent habitats and ecosystems, while also ensuring equitable access to water for vulnerable populations. The chapter highlights that proactive groundwater management is crucial to address the growing evidence of unsustainable groundwater mining. Without such measures, communities risk facing water scarcity, declining groundwater quality, and the collapse of local water supplies.(51,52) Sustainable management practices, including monitoring and regulation, are necessary to prevent wells from running dry and to safeguard against the environmental degradation caused by unregulated mining and quarrying. The discussion also underscores the importance of safeguarding public health by preventing the infiltration of pathogenic agents into drinking water supplies. Achieving this requires a combination of engineering solutions and institutional capacity to assess, prioritize, and implement sustainable water management systems. The chapter calls for integrating these solutions within existing infrastructure and ensuring that future systems are designed with long-term sustainability in mind. Furthermore, the chapter suggests that managed groundwater withdrawals could offer additional benefits to coastal communities. If withdrawal rates are carefully controlled in designated aquifers, they may help mitigate local impacts of sea-level rise. This dual benefit reinforces the need for comprehensive strategies that address both immediate water needs and long-term climate resilience.(53,54,55)
This study concludes that maintaining sustainable groundwater management requires a multifaceted approach that includes setting clear targets, improving institutional governance, and ensuring that technological advancements are deployed responsibly. By promoting both environmental sustainability and equitable resource distribution, the outlined strategies aim to create a more resilient and just water management system for future generations.
Analysis And Remarks
The study concludes by asserting that technological advancement and innovation will significantly shape the future impacts and mitigation strategies related to climate change. It notes that while technology offers promising solutions, uncertainty remains about society’s ability to navigate the dual paradoxes of technological progress and environmental sustainability. The authors emphasize that urgent action is needed, supported by mounting evidence of the escalating risks posed by climate change. Historically, humanity is well-positioned to address these challenges, given the wealth of scientific knowledge, advanced technologies, robust institutions, and effective communication tools that facilitate global collaboration. However, the authors highlight a critical gap: the lack of a deep and collective commitment to achieving shared societal goals. They argue that current efforts fall short due to short-term perspectives held by influential actors, which leave vulnerable populations without a voice in crucial discussions. The chapter underscores that the effectiveness of technological solutions will ultimately depend on the maturity and responsibility demonstrated by key stakeholders, including governments, corporations, and civil society. Achieving sustainable groundwater management and addressing climate change require collective action and long-term vision. The authors call for fostering a broader sense of responsibility that extends beyond immediate interests to include the well-being of future generations and the planet as a whole.
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FINANCING
The authors did not receive financing for the development of this research.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTION
Conceptualization: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula.
Formal analysis: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula.
Research: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula.
Methodology: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula.
Project management: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula, Linety Juma.
Resources: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula.
Software: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula.
Supervision: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula.
Validation: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula.
Display: Linety Juma.
Drafting - original draft: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula, Linety Juma.
Writing - proofreading and editing: Fredrick Kayusi, Petros Chavula.