New global study shows freshwater is disappearing at alarming rates

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://news.asu.edu/20250725-environment-and-sustainability-new-global-study-shows-freshwater-disappearing-alarming

New global study shows freshwater is disappearing at alarming rates
ASU-led research uses 20 years of satellite data to reveal unprecedented continental drying

By Sandy Keaton Leander | July 25, 2025

New findings from studying over two decades of satellite observations reveal that the Earth’s continents have experienced unprecedented freshwater loss since 2002, driven by climate change, unsustainable groundwater use and extreme droughts.

The study, led by Arizona State University and published today in Science Advances, highlights the emergence of four continental-scale “mega-drying” regions, all located in the Northern Hemisphere, and warns of severe consequences for water security, agriculture, sea-level rise and global stability.

The research team reports that drying areas on land are expanding at a rate roughly twice the size of California every year. And, the rate at which dry areas are getting drier now outpaces the rate at which wet areas are getting wetter, reversing long-standing hydrological patterns.

The negative implications of this for available freshwater are staggering. Seventy-five percent of the world’s population lives in 101 countries that have been losing freshwater for the past 22 years. According to the United Nations, the world’s population is expected to continue to grow for the next 50 to 60 years — at the same time the availability of freshwater is dramatically shrinking.

…

shikesh A. Chandanpurkar et al. ,Unprecedented continental drying, shrinking freshwater availability, and increasing land contributions to sea level rise.Sci. Adv.11,eadx0298(2025).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adx0298

[The Wizard]

1. During the W Bush administration

the Bush family bought the world's largest freshwater aquifer in South America. The next war will be over fresh water.

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Tough to say...

In the 70’s, it looked like the next big war would be over oil. We’ve had a number of smaller wars, but not global scale.

We’ve also seen what appear to be (at least in part) water wars.

What concerns me most is the melting of the Himalayan glaciers, but they don’t seem to get much attention:
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/himalayas-melting-climate-change/

Billions Rely on Himalayan Glaciers for Water. But They're Disappearing.

“This is the climate crisis you haven’t heard of.”

…

More than 1.9 billion people rely on the water that flows from the glaciers, whether for drinking, agriculture, energy, or other purposes. As the region warms, critical rivers and groundwater sources could eventually dry up, which could trigger conflicts, undermine economies, and spur mass migration, the report argues.

…

[MrWowWow]

2. Am awaiting my personal desalinization machine from

MIT. Until then, I will make do with my Atmospheric Water Generator.

**“From seawater to drinking water, with the push of a button”** — covers the portable, suitcase‑sized desalination unit.

https://news.mit.edu/2022/portable-desalination-drinking-water-0428

Freshwater Primer:

[OKIsItJustMe]

4. Those personal desalinization machines require a lot of electricity

(Just sayin’…)

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread OKIsItJustMe

[OKIsItJustMe]

6. You're welcome

This is a growing, but underappreciated threat (as far as I can tell.)

[Uncle Joe]

7. I couldn't agree more.

I almost started a thread on this article until I saw yours.