Author(s): Syrine Ghannem; Rafael J. Bergillos; Anis Chekirbane; Khaoula Khemiri; Javier Paredes Arquiola; Abel Solera; Joaquin Andreu
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Water scarcity is one of the most pressing global challenges of the 21st century (Morante-Carballo et al., 2022). It is a challenge that extends beyond geographical boundaries and socio-economic disparities, affecting both developed and developing countries. The imbalance between the supply of fresh water and the growing demand of a rapidly expanding population is striking. Due to the effects of climate change, the Mediterranean region is increasingly subject to prolonged droughts and irregular rainfall, further exacerbating water scarcity problems (Ferragina, 2010). Such challenges are compounded by the overexploitation of aquifers, a practice that has accelerated due to the intensification of agricultural, industrial, and domestic water use. The overpumping of aquifers not only depletes groundwater reserves but also leads to detrimental consequences, including land subsidence and the intrusion of saline water into freshwater aquifers (Taft, 2015; Tzanakakis et al., 2023).
Year: 2024