The Asian Water Tower, a vital water reserve in High Mountain Asia, is facing a severe groundwater crisis. The region is losing approximately 24.2 billion tonnes of groundwater every year, with significant declines in densely populated farming regions.
Key Insights
Groundwater storage is declining at an alarming rate, driven by climate-related forces and human water use. Human withdrawals have become increasingly significant after 2010, and researchers warn that without changes in water use, depletion is expected to accelerate after a temporary reprieve from glacier melt around the 2060s.
