GrogHeads Forum

IRL (In Real Life) => Current Events => Topic started by: Windigo on September 11, 2013, 12:31:53 PM

Title: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Windigo on September 11, 2013, 12:31:53 PM
http://www.itv.com/news/2013-09-10/kenya-water-aquifer-found-in-lotikipi/ (http://www.itv.com/news/2013-09-10/kenya-water-aquifer-found-in-lotikipi/)


Wow... can you say National food security via irrigation?

Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Centurion40 on September 11, 2013, 01:05:40 PM
Good news.
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 11, 2013, 01:27:08 PM
At least until Nestle gets the rights to it.
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Windigo on September 11, 2013, 02:20:01 PM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 11, 2013, 01:27:08 PM
At least until Nestle gets the rights to it.

More likely Japan/China

although I suspect it'll be divied up along tribal lines
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: LongBlade on September 11, 2013, 02:38:50 PM
QuoteA massive aquifer that holds enough water to meet all of Kenya's needs for 70 years

That 70 year caveat has me wondering.
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Windigo on September 11, 2013, 03:00:09 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on September 11, 2013, 02:38:50 PM
QuoteA massive aquifer that holds enough water to meet all of Kenya's needs for 70 years

That 70 year caveat has me wondering.

Total estimated aquifer water volume (volume x) Total water demand per year(volume x/year) = #years

major areas of variability

both are likely to factor in several ways to reduce the lifespan of the aquifer even given the fact that the other water supplies are still in place (e.g., demand will rise)

Other 2 questions (biggies)
is it a confined aquifer containing fossil water (i.e., disconected to other groundwater aquifers and there is no longer groundwater flowing in or out of the aquifer; and is there is any replenishment/recharge? If so how substantial?)
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: mirth on September 11, 2013, 03:15:59 PM
Quote from: Windigo on September 11, 2013, 03:00:09 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on September 11, 2013, 02:38:50 PM
QuoteA massive aquifer that holds enough water to meet all of Kenya's needs for 70 years

That 70 year caveat has me wondering.

Total estimated aquifer water volume (volume x) Total water demand per year(volume x/year) = #years

major areas of variability

  • estimated total volume vs proven reserves
  • assumes static demand levels

both are likely to factor in several ways to reduce the lifespan of the aquifer even given the fact that the other water supplies are still in place (e.g., demand will rise)

Other 2 questions (biggies)
is it a confined aquifer containing fossil water (i.e., disconected to other groundwater aquifers and there is no longer groundwater flowing in or out of the aquifer; and is there is any replenishment/recharge? If so how substantial?)


The article said there is replenishment from mountain runoff. If the usage is managed properly, the aquifer should provide water indefinitely.
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: bayonetbrant on September 11, 2013, 03:27:23 PM
Quote from: mirth on September 11, 2013, 03:15:59 PMIf the usage is managed properly

let me stop you there.

you do realize this is in Africa, right?

therefore, you recognize the folly of reasoning, right?
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: mirth on September 11, 2013, 03:34:44 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 11, 2013, 03:27:23 PM
Quote from: mirth on September 11, 2013, 03:15:59 PMIf the usage is managed properly

let me stop you there.

you do realize this is in Africa, right?

therefore, you recognize the folly of reasoning, right?

I didn't say I thought it was going to happen.
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: LongBlade on September 11, 2013, 03:54:12 PM
Quote from: bayonetbrant on September 11, 2013, 03:27:23 PM
Quote from: mirth on September 11, 2013, 03:15:59 PMIf the usage is managed properly

let me stop you there.

you do realize this is in Africa, right?

therefore, you recognize the folly of reasoning, right?

Hence my scepticism.
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Windigo on September 11, 2013, 04:10:16 PM
Aqufer management is mishandled pretty much all over the world.

African's should look to the US about how not to manage them. i.e.,  Past bad decisions make problems virtually impossible to rectify. Delay making changes to rectify issues.

Historical decisions have a way of biting you in the ass.

But no one can fuck up like Africa, with the exception of South Africa apparently. They just rewrote their Water Act
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Mr. Bigglesworth on September 11, 2013, 06:28:55 PM
I bet within 5 years they are exporting water for short term profit.
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 11, 2013, 06:40:47 PM
Quote from: Windigo on September 11, 2013, 02:20:01 PM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 11, 2013, 01:27:08 PM
At least until Nestle gets the rights to it.

More likely Japan/China

although I suspect it'll be divied up along tribal lines

Nah, Nestle will suck it dry like they're doing to the Great Lakes-upper Mississippi aquifer or the Fraser in BC.

China will by up the rights to any newly arrable land created from irrigation and grow crops purely for export to the Chinese market and the locals will be buggered.  It's going on all over Africa.
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: OJsDad on September 11, 2013, 09:03:40 PM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 11, 2013, 06:40:47 PM
Nah, Nestle will suck it dry like they're doing to the Great Lakes-upper Mississippi aquifer or the Fraser in BC.

Um, you do know that the lakes lose more to evaporation than what is pulled out of the lakes by people.  That, and a lack of rain and snow in the Great Lakes water shed. 
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 11, 2013, 10:01:01 PM
Um, I also know that Nestle isn't just pulling from the Lakes but from the aquifer at a rate greater than the replenishment. Um, I also know that evaporation and consumption aren't mutually exclusive but rather cumulative so what was your point?
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Windigo on September 12, 2013, 12:05:45 AM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 11, 2013, 10:01:01 PM
Um, I also know that Nestle isn't just pulling from the Lakes but from the aquifer at a rate greater than the replenishment. Um, I also know that evaporation and consumption aren't mutually exclusive but rather cumulative so what was your point?

Big diff here is that BC doesn't regulate or monitor groundwater withdrawal (like WTF? positively 3rd world or what)
Title: Re: Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya
Post by: Boggit on September 14, 2013, 08:44:51 AM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 11, 2013, 06:40:47 PM
Quote from: Windigo on September 11, 2013, 02:20:01 PM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 11, 2013, 01:27:08 PM
At least until Nestle gets the rights to it.

More likely Japan/China

although I suspect it'll be divied up along tribal lines

Nah, Nestle will suck it dry like they're doing to the Great Lakes-upper Mississippi aquifer or the Fraser in BC.

China will by up the rights to any newly arrable land created from irrigation and grow crops purely for export to the Chinese market and the locals will be buggered.  It's going on all over Africa.
And Quadrilla will poison the water supply by fracking underneath it.

Ironically, let's hope that Nestle and China get there first... :o :-\