Nice Find! Massive Aquifer discovered in Kenya

[Windigo]

http://www.itv.com/news/2013-09-10/kenya-water-aquifer-found-in-lotikipi/


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

[Centurion40]

Good news.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

At least until Nestle gets the rights to it.

[Windigo]

At least until Nestle gets the rights to it.

More likely Japan/China

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

[LongBlade]

A massive aquifer that holds enough water to meet all of Kenya's needs for 70 years

That 70 year caveat has me wondering.

[Windigo]

A 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?)

[mirth]

A 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.

[bayonetbrant]

If 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?

[mirth]

If 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.

[LongBlade]

If 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.

[Windigo]

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

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I bet within 5 years they are exporting water for short term profit.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

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.

[OJsDad]

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. 

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

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?