The world's reservoirs: increasingly, but less and less

2023/06/13 Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

World reservoirs are becoming more and more empty, although water reserves are increasing due to the construction of new reservoirs. This has been demonstrated by a study that has analyzed the evolution of reservoirs worldwide for twenty years. Published in the journal Natur Communications.

Using human data, they have analyzed the evolution of 7,245 reservoirs worldwide between 1999 and 2018. They note that the reserves have increased by around 28 km/year due to the construction of new reservoirs. However, these new reservoirs are either not expected or are collecting enough water. Overall, the ratio between reservoir capacity and water storage is decreasing.

The reservoirs of the South American and African reservoirs are the ones that are falling the most, and at the same time, they are places where the population increases and therefore the water needs. In North America and Europe, in general, the reservoirs are increasingly full.

In view of these results, the researchers suggest that, in order to continue having access to water, the construction of new reservoirs will not be enough, but that new management strategies, especially those related to the regulation of reserves, will be indispensable.