'Water bankruptcy' - U.N. scientists say much of the world is irreversibly depleting water

"Excessive water pumping from rivers, lakes and underground has pushed much of the world into an era of "water bankruptcy," scientists say in a new U.N. report. Agriculture accounts for about 70% of water use. As many regions draw down the water accumulated over millenia, the experts say, much stronger efforts are needed to protect what remains of dwindling water."

"More than half of all large lakes are shrinking, and most of the world's major underground sources are declining irreversibly as agricultural pumping drains water that took centuries or even thousands of years to accumulate. In a report this week, U.N. scientists warn that the world has entered a new era of "global water bankruptcy" - a term that starkly underlines the urgency of efforts needed to protect what remains."

Excessive pumping of rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers has pushed much of the world into water bankruptcy as freshwater reserves are drawn down faster than they can be replenished. Agriculture uses about 70% of global water and drives depletion of supplies that accumulated over millennia. Dozens of major rivers often run dry before reaching the sea, more than half of large lakes are shrinking, and many major aquifers are declining irreversibly. Numerous basins, lakes, and wetlands have crossed tipping points and cannot recover. Exhausted water resources threaten economies, displace populations, and increase conflict risk, requiring much stronger protection and conservation.

Read at Los Angeles Times