UN Charts Underground Waters And Proposes Treaty for Protecting Them

The United Nations has published the first map of the world’s underground aquifers in an effort to prevent these vital water reservoirs from being polluted or overused. The map by the United Nations Educational, Social, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has identified 273 aquifers that transcend national boundaries and should be protected by international agreements. At the same time, the organization has introduced a draft Convention on Transboundary Aquifers for consideration by the UN General Assembly. The proposed treaty would require countries to protect their aquifers, many of which have not previously been charted or protected. In arid parts of the globe, these huge underground pools are virtually the only source of water. UNESCO reports, for example, that aquifers supply 100 percent of the water used in Saudi Arabia and Malta, and 95 percent in Tunisia. The European Union draws more than 70 percent of its water from aquifers.