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International Session – Article by Camilla Rostagno, 18 anni di Garessio (CN)

«Human causes responsible», says the expert. Most of us know that, out of the total amount of water present on the Earth’s surface, only 3% of it is freshwater, but this doesn’t mean, then, that it’s completely, in practice, available. As a matter of fact, most of it is confined in ice caps or glaciers. Out of this extremely small-sized amount, the majority is used by industries or by the irrigation channels for the fields. Let’s add, now, a good dose of wastebecause “turning off the water while brushing teeth is not a big savings” or “Let the tap run! It’s not a big deal, it’s just a little bit”. Everybody is perfectly able to feel disappointed and sorry for the children in Africa, who do not even know what drinking water is, because it seems a distant reality and there’snothing we can do about it. What is going to happen, however, when we will cry because our children are in the same situation? Global warming, the ozone hole and fertilizers are certainly some causes of the reduction of water resources, but not the only ones. This is a real problem that we are underestimating, and one day, soon, we will find ourselves incredulous, opening the tap with no luck, wondering where did our water go and why. A significant and concrete example is provided from the Oglala aquifer, United States.One of the largest in the world, the Oglala is located in the Great Plains and with its waterprovides irrigation to 30% of the U.S. and fills the glasses of 82% of residents in the neighboring areas.The regions extended above the aquifer are among the most productive of the whole States, providing wheat, corn, soybeans, cotton and corn.In 1911 began the exploitation for irrigation, which has been increasing gradually, andthen it made its way for the hydroelectric power. Thencame the big industries. And of course there are private homes, businesses, schools. This “stampede”of water is alsosupported by the fact that some underground rivers that run deep below the Oglala, then, take away some of its water and transport it outside the region. The average reduction in water per year was listedfor less than a foot in the early ‘90s,then moved to three feet in 1995 and has continued to increase until now. «Theexploitation is too high,»said James Parker, head of the scientific program of the Auburn High School in Rockford (IL) «and there is insufficient refill. The complete exhaustion isat hand». When asked what the causes of this decline are, he answers that it’s only and exclusively amatter of human intervention, there are no other guilty, while tothe question«Do you think there is any possible long-term solution?» hesays: «Yes, there is a solution. Governments need to impose appropriate limits to industries and irrigation, they are the major causes of this damage, not private citizens,although they must learn to restrain themselves, too. It’s like spending money: you can either get your act together or find yourself without any».In attempting some research on the Web, one can hardly find news and/or information about this topic. It looks almost like there’s something to hide. Or maybe it’s just not interesting enough. Perhaps, as often happens, this is a kind of fact that is not interesting until it overwhelms us and then, of course, it’s too late. Franco Sacchetti, an Italian poet and writer, said «In one hundred years and one hundred months, water comes back to its homeland». But what if it does not happen anymore?

In the picture: U.S.’s underground water resources map. In the circle, the Oglala aquifer.

Camilla Rostagno

cod. conc. 1211102854

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