Scientists 'drill, baby, drill,' and find freshwater deep beneath the ocean floor off the North Atlantic coast

The U.S. already faces a freshwater crisis, brought on by drought, higher temperatures, overuse and pollution. But a scientific dig into the North Atlantic seafloor more than 50 years ago could offer a surprising solution. "It found, of all things. . . fresh water," report Calvin Woodward, Carolyn Kaster and Rodrique Ngowi of The Associated Press. 

Fast forward to this summer, when researchers were following up on the past discovery. "A first-of-its-kind global research expedition [is] drilling for fresh water under the salt water off Cape Cod," AP reports. Researchers pulled thousands of water samples from what is now "thought to be a massive, hidden aquifer stretching from New Jersey as far north as Maine."

Do these freshwater troves exist in coastal areas around the globe? Scientists agree that it's likely that the aquifers exist in shallow salt waters around the world. Even so, the "secret fresh water" comes with a litany of challenges, from how to get it to the surface without harming surrounding marine life to questions about who owns it.

As data centers and record heat in some areas rapidly slurp up fresh water, researchers and world leaders are motivated to finance a different kind of drilling. AP reports, "No one globally had drilled systematically into the seabed on a mission to find freshwater."

Under-ocean water samples are being analyzed to discover where they came from, how old they are and what microorganisms thrive in water hidden under the ocean. The discovery and sampling are so dramatic that some scientists are ecstatic. Geophysicist Rob Evans, whose 2015 expedition helped point the way, told AP, “There’s a ton of excitement that finally they’ve got samples.”

California declared 'clean water for all' as a basic human right, but that promise isn't a reality for many rural areas

Aging systems can contribute to contaminated
water. (Photo by Daniel Fazio, Unsplash)

California declared clean drinking water a human right in 2012, but that promise remains a work in progress as residents in more rural or underserved counties still drink contaminated water, reports Ian James of the Los Angeles Times. "Approximately 913,000 Californians depended on public water systems that are failing to comply with drinking water regulations, while an additional 1.5 million people depended on water systems that are determined to be 'at-risk.'" The price tag for clean, affordable water "for all" rings in at $15.9 billion.

Risky water tends to be poured from taps in small, more rural communities. Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the state water board, told James, "What our analysis has shown time and again is that the common denominator is size. Small systems struggle, especially in communities that have experienced discrimination and disinvestment, and their challenges will be amplified as the weather grows more extreme, new contaminants emerge and costs increase.”

The contaminated water some rural Californians are using, many Americans might rightfully refuse to drink. "The water pumped from wells contains harmful levels of contaminants including naturally occurring arsenic, bacteria from sewage leaks, nitrate from animal manure, fertilizers or other sources, and carcinogenic chemicals," James explains. Many water systems "have at least one contaminant at levels that violate safe drinking water standards."

Getting regional water systems in line with safe drinking standards takes more than funding. It takes people and planning. "The estimated costs of solutions in the latest report were substantially higher than previous state estimates," James writes. "According to the report, the estimated costs of long-term solutions for failing and at-risk public water systems total $6.6 billion over five years, while the costs of solutions for 'high-risk' small water systems and domestic wells total $4.9 billion."

But those numbers don't include everything. James explains, "Those combined costs, totaling more than $11.5 billion, would be significantly higher if loan repayment costs and operations and maintenance costs are included, the report said, pushing the total estimated cost of 'achieving the human right to water' to $15.9 billion."

It's a total California may not be prepared to pay. James adds, "Officials projected that $2 billion in state grant funds will be available over five years, as well as $1.5 billion in state loans, leaving a substantial gap in available funding."