When most people think of global warming, the first thing that comes to mind is rising temperatures. We hear reports of temperatures rising in already warm climates and temperature increases in colder climates. However, we don’t often hear enough about the effects of global warming on drinking water and drinking water safety.
Even though recent news has raised skepticism in the minds of some regarding the extent of global warming, it’s still important to learn about—and prepare for—the potential aftermaths of the myriad effects of climate change. If these effects occur, it’s important to be prepared for them.
First, some suggest that global warming will result in coastal flooding that will in some cases pollute fresh water. For instance, rising seas levels in coastal communities could potentially pollute fresh water with salt and cause the fresh water to be undrinkable. The salt water can penetrate aquifers—not to mention wells—and pollute the water.
This would leave many people without the benefit of clean drinking water.
Second, global warming can result in water shortages in many areas, some experts suggest. These water shortages could potentially threaten communities. Some experts believe the intricate balance in water runoff from mountains would be upset if temperatures rose, thus causing a large portion of the runoff to be wasted. And that would result in putting people at risk.
So while we still wait to endure some of the effects of global warming, it’s beneficial to understand what they might be—and to prepare for them.
Related posts:
- Global Warming and Recreational Water Quality
- Global Warming and Its Effects on Water Quality
- Ice Shelves and Antarctica: What’s Happening?
- How Will Melting Glaciers Affect Us?
- Icelandic Volcano Raises Drinking Water Concerns Among Experts
