This webinar is part of the Earth Science Week 2021 webinar series.

The need for having sustainable water is a key element in global resilience to climate change, as a shield against ecosystem loss, and as a defense against human deprivation and poverty. Water is essential to the health of all living things. With the onslaught of climate change, drought and exploding population growth, water is a valuable but very vulnerable resource. Water can be an element of peace, supporting security and abundance, or a source of transboundary conflict fueling political ambitions.

Groundwater, in particular, is the underpinning of irrigated agriculture and energy production and it therefore supports food security and economic development. Groundwater provides drinking water to at least 50% of the global population, and worldwide, approximately 2.5 billion people depend solely on groundwater resources to satisfy their basic daily water needs (UNESCO, 2012). In these times of Covid-19, groundwater also promotes hand washing in isolated rural communities. But it is a hidden resource and not well understood.

Examples from around the nation and world illustrate the importance, vulnerability, and changing aspects of water quantity and quality. Some potential solutions and stopgap measures are on the horizon to preserve our water resources, but the challenges are immense.

About the speaker

David Kreamer, Ph.D. is a Professor of Geoscience at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and serves as President of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH). Dave’s research includes work on water and international security, maintaining good water quality supply for people and ecosystems particularly in economically developing regions, combating environmental contamination, and water quality and quantity analysis and improvement. He has authored over 70 professional publications, recently co-authoring the 3rd Edition of the textbook “Contaminant Hydrogeology” and soon to be released 5th edition of “Applied Hydrogeology” (Waveland Press). David has served as a professional consultant/ expert witness, given over 150 invited presentations, has testified before the United States Congress, and addressed the United Nations General Assembly on water issues.