Water – Image: Fir0002/Flagstaffotos
By Nicholas Pescod – AfricanBrains
A major water source has been discovered in Namibia that has scientists and researchers very excited.
According to the BBC, researchers estimate that the water source could in fact supply the northern part of the country for 400 years at the current rate of consumption.
Scientists believe the water is over 10,000 years old but is purer and cleaner than the majority of water sources out there.
Currently, 800,000 people who live in the surrounding area rely on a 40-year-old canal to supply them with drinking water that comes from Angola.
According to German federal institute for geoscience and natural resources (BGR) project manager, Martin Quinger, the finding is a significant area of water.
“The amount of stored water would equal the current supply of this area in northern Namibia for 400 years, which has about 40 percent of the nation’s population,” he said. “What we are aiming at is a sustainable water supply so we only extract the amount of water that is being recharged.
For more than 10 years the government of Namibian government have been working extensively to combat the lack of a sustainable water supply, with a partnership between researchers from Germany and other European Union countries.
He went on to say that the even though the water is 10,000 years old, it would be very safe for consumption.
“If the water [has spent] 10,000 years underground, it means it was recharged at a time when environmental pollution was not yet an issue, so on average it can be a lot better than water that infiltrates in cycles of months or years. ”
According to researchers the water source, which is on the Namibian side of the border. It is roughly 70 km by 40 km and the water would provide farmers with an adequate irrigation source.
Despite the finding, there are concerns about unauthorized well drillings.
Source: BBC.com
Nicholas Pescod attended Iroquois Ridge High School in Oakville, Ontario and graduated in 2007. After deciding to return for an extra semester of high school he attended the University of Guelph in 2008. In 2009 he transferred from University into Centennial College’s journalism program and graduated in 2012. Pescod has been a contributor to the East-Toronto Observer, and he currently contributes to the North Shore News’ entertainment section. While at Centennial College he created Radio Nation, a weekly Internet radio show with a focus on indie music. Since Radio Nation began in November of 2010 there have been over 70 different live guests. In 2011 Pescod received a Global Citizenship award from Centennial for his work on Radio Nation. The show has regular listeners from around the world. Email: nicholas.pescod@africanbrains.org
