A multinational scientific mission has announced the discovery of a vast underground reservoir of fresh water located deep in the Atlantic Ocean, believed to be one of the hidden freshwater reserves around the world.
The reservoir extends along the eastern coast of the United States, from New Jersey to Maine, as part of advanced research efforts aimed at exploring new sources of potable water.
This discovery comes approximately 50 years after freshwater was accidentally found on the seabed off the northeastern United States during drilling operations conducted by a U.S. government vessel searching for minerals and hydrocarbons.
The mission, designated (501), commenced its work this summer off the coast of Cape Cod, where the team was able to extract thousands of samples confirming the existence of this massive water stockpile beneath the ocean’s surface.
Brandon Dugan, a geophysicist and hydrology expert at the Colorado School of Mines, stated that this reservoir represents one of several “secret freshwater” deposits scattered in shallow saline waters globally, highlighting its potential for future use in addressing increasing challenges related to water scarcity.
Dugan added that the research team will analyze around 50,000 liters of this water in specialized laboratories worldwide to determine its source, whether derived from melting glaciers, connected to terrestrial groundwater systems, or a combination of both.
Despite the significance of this discovery, its utilization faces major technical and environmental challenges, including the development of safe extraction methods, identifying ownership of this resource, ensuring equitable distribution, and maintaining ecological balance in the marine region.
This discovery comes amid international predictions that global demand for freshwater will exceed available supply by 40% by 2030, according to United Nations reports, as pressures on water resources increase due to climate change and intensive industrial use.
Source
