{"id":83565,"date":"2022-03-21T07:05:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T07:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/?p=83565"},"modified":"2024-03-05T08:11:55","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T08:11:55","slug":"bgs-and-wateraid-publish-new-research-on-groundwater-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-and-wateraid-publish-new-research-on-groundwater-resilience\/","title":{"rendered":"BGS and WaterAid publish new research on groundwater resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"wp-block-bgs-blocks-content-container content-section\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-12\">\n<p>There is enough groundwater under the continent of Africa for most countries to survive at least five years of drought \u2013 and some, more than 50 years \u2013 according to research by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wateraid.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WaterAid<\/a> and the British Geological Survey (BGS) released today.\u202f&nbsp; But gross underinvestment in services to get the water out of the ground and to those who need it most and untapped or poorly managed resources means millions of people don\u2019t have enough safe, clean water to meet their daily needs, let alone face the impacts of the climate crisis, WaterAid and BGS warn in a new report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/washmatters.wateraid.org\/sites\/g\/files\/jkxoof256\/files\/2022-03\/Groundwater%20The%20world%E2%80%99s%20neglected%20defence%20against%20climate%20change.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Groundwater: The world\u2019s neglected defence against climate change<\/a> <\/em>is released by WaterAid and BGS today as Heads of State meet at the World Water Forum in Senegal, West Africa.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-groundwater-storage.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Years of reserves of potentially usable groundwater at a national level, based on current usage plus current population using 130 litres per person per day and assuming no active recharge. Source: BGS \u00a9 UKRI&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_80255\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-groundwater-storage-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Map of Africa showing drought resilience through groundwater\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-groundwater-storage-960x831.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Years of reserves of potentially usable groundwater at a national level, based on current usage plus current population using 130 litres per person per day and assuming no active recharge. Source: BGS \u00a9 UKRI<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-groundwater-storage.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Years of reserves of potentially usable groundwater at a national level, based on current usage plus current population using 130 litres per person per day and assuming no active recharge. Source: BGS \u00a9 UKRI&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_80255\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Groundwater \u2013 which exists almost everywhere underground, in gaps within soil, sand and rock \u2013 has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives and be the world\u2019s insurance policy against climate change, the organisations assert.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It could help communities cope not only with slow onset impacts like drought and irregular rainfall, but also provide resilience to rapid onset impacts like floods by ensuring safe water is available for all, including in schools and hospitals, according to the report.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t<blockquote id=\"quote-7909-block_6234aa049be3e\" class=\"quote  \" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quote-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/quote-caption.svg\" alt=\"Speech marks icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quote-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Our findings debunk the myth that Africa is running out of water. But the tragedy is that millions of people on the continent still do not have enough clean water to drink.<\/p>\n<p>There are vast reserves of water right under people\u2019s feet, many of which are replenished every year by rainfall and other surface water, but they can\u2019t access it because services are chronically underfunded.\u202fTapping into groundwater would ensure millions have access to safe, clean water no matter what the climate crisis throws at them.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive of WaterAid in the UK<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"owl-carousel carousel-primary-color carousel owl-theme thumbs-carousel-js\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item\"><figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-renewable-groundwater-web.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Percentage of renewable groundwater withdrawn each year, based on current usage plus current population using 130 litres per person, per day. Source: BGS \u00a9 UKRI&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_63480\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-renewable-groundwater-web-960x831.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Map of Africa showing projected use of renewable groundwater\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Percentage of renewable groundwater withdrawn each year, based on current usage plus current population using 130 litres per person, per day. Source: BGS \u00a9 UKRI<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-renewable-groundwater-web.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Percentage of renewable groundwater withdrawn each year, based on current usage plus current population using 130 litres per person, per day. Source: BGS \u00a9 UKRI&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_63480\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<p>WaterAid and BGS produced a series of maps which chart current access to drinking water across Africa and drought resilience based on potential useable groundwater at national level. It reveals:\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Most countries in Africa have sufficient groundwater for people to not only survive but thrive \u2013 in some cases for more than 50 years.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/li><li>This includes Ethiopia and Madagascar &#8211; where only around half the population have clean water close to home &#8211; and large parts of Mali, Niger and Nigeria.\u202f&nbsp;<\/li><li>Every African country south of the Sahara could supply 130 litres of drinking water per capita per day from groundwater without using more than 25% of the long-term average recharge<sup>1<\/sup>,<sup> <\/sup>and most less than 10%. This means groundwater could provide a buffer against climate change for many years to come, even in the unlikely event that it doesn\u2019t rain.\u202f&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\t\t\t<blockquote id=\"quote-6747-block_6234aa4e9be3f\" class=\"quote  \" >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quote-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/quote-caption.svg\" alt=\"Speech marks icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"quote-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Groundwater is nature\u2019s water reservoir, and a key resource to help the world adapt to climate change.\u202f It\u2019s widely available, controlled by natural variation in geology, but is out of sight beneath our feet.<\/p>\n<p>To unlock the great potential of groundwater, we need the right investment in expertise to map groundwater, drill sustainable wells and find ways to maintain and manage water resources and services.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Professor Alan MacDonald, BGS Groundwater Resilience Lead<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<p><strong>Karimatu, 17, from Adamawa, Nigeria,<\/strong> who is featured in the report, wakes up at 6am every day to collect water from a nearby stream, making at least three trips before school. Karimatu would like to be a doctor but fetching water early in the mornings affects her schoolwork. \u201cGetting a steady water supply will make me happy,\u201d she told WaterAid.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report also explains that while groundwater in sub-Saharan Africa is largely underused, in other parts of the world \u2013 mainly in south Asia \u2013 overuse is rife. This, along with a lack of regulation, insufficient expertise and investment, often leads to mismanagement, contamination and pollution \u2013 with potentially devastating consequences:\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>In some areas, farming is responsible for up to 90 percent of all groundwater use. While crops flourish now, boreholes may run dry meaning crops will be affected later and people resort to drinking unsafe water to survive. For example, in Pakistan, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2214581815000233?via%3Dihub.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">94% of pumped groundwater is for irrigation<\/a>. \u202f&nbsp;<\/li><li>In other regions, groundwater is naturally contaminated with arsenic and fluoride which can lead to illness or even death. For example, in India, arsenic contamination affects the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and West Bengal in the east. Several districts of Odisha are affected with high fluoride, iron and salinity and parts of central and Southeast India also show higher levels of nitrate and iron contamination.\u202f&nbsp;<\/li><li>In both south Asia and Africa, groundwater is vulnerable to pollution whether it be from fertilisers and pesticides from intensive farming, toxic chemicals from poorly regulated industry or sewerage from poorly managed sanitation. For example, a recent survey of boreholes in Ethiopia, Uganda and Malawi saw E. coli present in the water from 20% of rural handpumps, likely as a result of poorly sealed boreholes, allowing contaminated water from nearby toilets to drain into the pump intakes.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<figure  class=\"img-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-water-services_web.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Percentage of the population using, at least, basic drinking water services, JMP 2020. Source: BGS \u00a9 UKRI&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_55105\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-water-services_web-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur\" alt=\"Map of Africa showing percentage of the population using basic drinking water services\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-water-services_web-960x831.jpg\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"caption \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/info-caption.svg\" alt=\"Information icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-text\"><p>Percentage of the population using, at least, basic drinking water services, JMP 2020. Source: BGS \u00a9 UKRI<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"expand-box expand-box-top\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Africa-water-services_web.jpg\" data-toggle=\"lightbox\" data-footer=\"&lt;p&gt;Percentage of the population using, at least, basic drinking water services, JMP 2020. Source: BGS \u00a9 UKRI&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-gallery=\"gallery_55105\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/bgs\/img\/expand.svg\" alt=\"Expand icon\"><\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Groundwater: The world\u2019s neglected defence against climate change <\/em>emphasises the need to increase water and sanitation financing for marginalised communities through a fixed percentage of annual government budgets and increased international donor and private sector investment.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It also stresses the importance of agreeing at COP 27 that investment in responsible groundwater development and the knowledge, expertise, finance and institutional support this requires, is key to securing life-saving sustainable and safe water and sanitation for communities living on the frontline of the climate crisis.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the ways to achieve this is to invest in better mapping and monitoring of the Earth\u2019s subsurface to determine where good-quality groundwater is not only available but also extractable in a sustainable and economical way, to unlock its full potential, WaterAid and BGS said.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div  class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"acc-top secondary-background icon-arrow button no-btn\"><span class=\"button-content\" tabindex=\"-1\">Notes to editors<\/span><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acc-body sea-background-e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>WaterAid<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>WaterAid is working to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere within a generation. The international not-for-profit organisation works in 28 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalised people. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 28 million people with clean water and nearly 29 million people with decent toilets.\u202fFor more information, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wateraid.org\/uk\">wateraid.org\/uk<\/a> or on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wateraid\/\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/wateraid\">LinkedIn <\/a>or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wateraid\/\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>771 million people in the world \u2013 one in ten \u2013 do not have clean water close to ho<a href=\"https:\/\/ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com\/we\/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&amp;rs=en%2DGB&amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwateraid.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2F78aqkc7m%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F715b4ae5d54d4ae287463d9d315699dc&amp;wdenableroaming=1&amp;mscc=1&amp;hid=C55628A0-B0D2-C000-DF04-3E4FCC8062B2&amp;wdorigin=ItemsView&amp;wdhostclicktime=1646905973389&amp;jsapi=1&amp;jsapiver=v1&amp;newsession=1&amp;corrid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;usid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;sftc=1&amp;mtf=1&amp;sfp=1&amp;instantedit=1&amp;wopicomplete=1&amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&amp;rct=Medium&amp;ctp=LeastProtected#_ftn1\"><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<li>7 billion people in the world \u2013 more than one in five \u2013 do not have a decent toilet of their own.<a href=\"https:\/\/ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com\/we\/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&amp;rs=en%2DGB&amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwateraid.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2F78aqkc7m%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F715b4ae5d54d4ae287463d9d315699dc&amp;wdenableroaming=1&amp;mscc=1&amp;hid=C55628A0-B0D2-C000-DF04-3E4FCC8062B2&amp;wdorigin=ItemsView&amp;wdhostclicktime=1646905973389&amp;jsapi=1&amp;jsapiver=v1&amp;newsession=1&amp;corrid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;usid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;sftc=1&amp;mtf=1&amp;sfp=1&amp;instantedit=1&amp;wopicomplete=1&amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&amp;rct=Medium&amp;ctp=LeastProtected#_ftn2\"><sup>[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Around 290,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That&#8217;s more than 800 children a day, or one child every two minutes.<a href=\"https:\/\/ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com\/we\/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&amp;rs=en%2DGB&amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwateraid.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2F78aqkc7m%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F715b4ae5d54d4ae287463d9d315699dc&amp;wdenableroaming=1&amp;mscc=1&amp;hid=C55628A0-B0D2-C000-DF04-3E4FCC8062B2&amp;wdorigin=ItemsView&amp;wdhostclicktime=1646905973389&amp;jsapi=1&amp;jsapiver=v1&amp;newsession=1&amp;corrid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;usid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;sftc=1&amp;mtf=1&amp;sfp=1&amp;instantedit=1&amp;wopicomplete=1&amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&amp;rct=Medium&amp;ctp=LeastProtected#_ftn3\"><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Every \u00a31 invested in water and toilets returns an average of \u00a34 in increased productivity.<a href=\"https:\/\/ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com\/we\/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&amp;rs=en%2DGB&amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwateraid.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2F78aqkc7m%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F715b4ae5d54d4ae287463d9d315699dc&amp;wdenableroaming=1&amp;mscc=1&amp;hid=C55628A0-B0D2-C000-DF04-3E4FCC8062B2&amp;wdorigin=ItemsView&amp;wdhostclicktime=1646905973389&amp;jsapi=1&amp;jsapiver=v1&amp;newsession=1&amp;corrid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;usid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;sftc=1&amp;mtf=1&amp;sfp=1&amp;instantedit=1&amp;wopicomplete=1&amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&amp;rct=Medium&amp;ctp=LeastProtected#_ftn4\"><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Just \u00a315 can provide one person with clean water.<a href=\"https:\/\/ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com\/we\/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&amp;rs=en%2DGB&amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwateraid.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2F78aqkc7m%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F715b4ae5d54d4ae287463d9d315699dc&amp;wdenableroaming=1&amp;mscc=1&amp;hid=C55628A0-B0D2-C000-DF04-3E4FCC8062B2&amp;wdorigin=ItemsView&amp;wdhostclicktime=1646905973389&amp;jsapi=1&amp;jsapiver=v1&amp;newsession=1&amp;corrid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;usid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;sftc=1&amp;mtf=1&amp;sfp=1&amp;instantedit=1&amp;wopicomplete=1&amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&amp;rct=Medium&amp;ctp=LeastProtected#_ftn5\"><sup>[5]<\/sup><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Methodology:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A detailed methodology is included in the report <em><a href=\"https:\/\/washmatters.wateraid.org\/sites\/g\/files\/jkxoof256\/files\/2022-03\/Groundwater%20The%20world%E2%80%99s%20neglected%20defence%20against%20climate%20change.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Groundwater: The world\u2019s neglected defence against climate change<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com\/we\/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&amp;rs=en%2DGB&amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwateraid.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2F78aqkc7m%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F715b4ae5d54d4ae287463d9d315699dc&amp;wdenableroaming=1&amp;mscc=1&amp;hid=C55628A0-B0D2-C000-DF04-3E4FCC8062B2&amp;wdorigin=ItemsView&amp;wdhostclicktime=1646905973389&amp;jsapi=1&amp;jsapiver=v1&amp;newsession=1&amp;corrid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;usid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;sftc=1&amp;mtf=1&amp;sfp=1&amp;instantedit=1&amp;wopicomplete=1&amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&amp;rct=Medium&amp;ctp=LeastProtected#_ftnref1\"><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/washdata.org\/reports\">WHO\/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) <em>Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2017 update and SDG Baselines<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com\/we\/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&amp;rs=en%2DGB&amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwateraid.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2F78aqkc7m%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F715b4ae5d54d4ae287463d9d315699dc&amp;wdenableroaming=1&amp;mscc=1&amp;hid=C55628A0-B0D2-C000-DF04-3E4FCC8062B2&amp;wdorigin=ItemsView&amp;wdhostclicktime=1646905973389&amp;jsapi=1&amp;jsapiver=v1&amp;newsession=1&amp;corrid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;usid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;sftc=1&amp;mtf=1&amp;sfp=1&amp;instantedit=1&amp;wopicomplete=1&amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&amp;rct=Medium&amp;ctp=LeastProtected#_ftnref2\"><sup>[2]<\/sup><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/washdata.org\/reports\">WHO\/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) <em>Progress on drinking water, sanitation and hygiene: 2017 update and SDG Baselines<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com\/we\/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&amp;rs=en%2DGB&amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwateraid.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2F78aqkc7m%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F715b4ae5d54d4ae287463d9d315699dc&amp;wdenableroaming=1&amp;mscc=1&amp;hid=C55628A0-B0D2-C000-DF04-3E4FCC8062B2&amp;wdorigin=ItemsView&amp;wdhostclicktime=1646905973389&amp;jsapi=1&amp;jsapiver=v1&amp;newsession=1&amp;corrid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;usid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;sftc=1&amp;mtf=1&amp;sfp=1&amp;instantedit=1&amp;wopicomplete=1&amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&amp;rct=Medium&amp;ctp=LeastProtected#_ftnref3\"><sup>[3]<\/sup><\/a> Pr\u00fcss-Ust\u00fcn et al. (2014) and The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2018)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ukc-word-edit.officeapps.live.com\/we\/wordeditorframe.aspx?ui=en%2DUS&amp;rs=en%2DGB&amp;wopisrc=https%3A%2F%2Fwateraid.sharepoint.com%2Fsites%2F78aqkc7m%2F_vti_bin%2Fwopi.ashx%2Ffiles%2F715b4ae5d54d4ae287463d9d315699dc&amp;wdenableroaming=1&amp;mscc=1&amp;hid=C55628A0-B0D2-C000-DF04-3E4FCC8062B2&amp;wdorigin=ItemsView&amp;wdhostclicktime=1646905973389&amp;jsapi=1&amp;jsapiver=v1&amp;newsession=1&amp;corrid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;usid=91a14c7a-0374-4b08-8366-b1c4ff49ded9&amp;sftc=1&amp;mtf=1&amp;sfp=1&amp;instantedit=1&amp;wopicomplete=1&amp;wdredirectionreason=Unified_SingleFlush&amp;rct=Medium&amp;ctp=LeastProtected#_ftnref4\"><sup>[4]<\/sup><\/a> World Health organization (2012) Global costs and benefits of drinking-water supply and sanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and universal coverage<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relatives\">\n\t\t\t\t<h5>Relative topics<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/tag\/africa\/\" class=\"button primary-background\">africa<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/tag\/climate-change\/\" class=\"button primary-background\">climate change<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/tag\/groundwater-research\/\" class=\"button primary-background\">groundwater<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/tag\/international-geoscience\/\" class=\"button primary-background\">international<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/tag\/resilience\/\" class=\"button primary-background\">resilience<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<section  style=\"background-image:url('https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/News-events-scaled.jpg')\" id=\"latest-content-7118-block_6234ab639be42\" class=\"cards-carousel-section  basic-background-1   \" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row header-of-section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Latest news<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12 owl-carousel carousel-basic-2-color owl-theme carousel-js\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  press-release\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-to-lead-a-new-research-project-on-microplastic-occurrence-in-springs\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/P1038363-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"BGS staff sampling a chalk spring for microplastics in 2024. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/P1038363.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS news<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-to-lead-a-new-research-project-on-microplastic-occurrence-in-springs\/\">BGS to lead a new research project on microplastic occurrence in springs<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>06\/03\/2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS has been awarded a two-year research project to undertake the first assessment of microplastic occurrence in springs in the UK. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-to-lead-a-new-research-project-on-microplastic-occurrence-in-springs\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  press-release\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/local-mp-helps-bgs-launch-a-living-laboratory\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/P1039076-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Breaking ground ceremony. L to R: Sami Massum (BGS), David Boon (BGS), Councillor Rob Inglis, Michelle Bentham, (BGS), Mark Thorpe (Pick Everard), Ross Goodband (Pick Everard), Ruth Edwards MP, Daniel Crow (BGS), Gershwyn Soanes (BGS), Andrew McConnochie (BGS), Mike Potter (NERC), James Howell (NERC) and Edward Leddy-Owen. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/P1039076.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS news<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/local-mp-helps-bgs-launch-a-living-laboratory\/\">Local MP helps BGS launch a \u2018living laboratory\u2019\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>05\/03\/2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS is implementing a low-carbon heating system to help meet its net zero targets and provide data to the public. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/local-mp-helps-bgs-launch-a-living-laboratory\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  bgs-blogs\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/unlocking-key-mineral-archives-at-the-zambian-geological-survey-department\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/P1000254-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Rebecca Mumpansha, a GSD librarian, with the sales stock of geological maps. \u00a9 Rachel Talbot.\u00a0\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/P1000254-960x645.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS blogs<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/unlocking-key-mineral-archives-at-the-zambian-geological-survey-department\/\">Unlocking key mineral archives at the Zambian Geological Survey Department\u00a0<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>23\/02\/2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Rachel Talbot recounts a recent visit by BGS Records staff to the Zambian Geological Survey Department, to assist in critical mineral data management.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/unlocking-key-mineral-archives-at-the-zambian-geological-survey-department\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  press-release\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/more-than-60-new-co2-storage-units-added-to-bgs-national-co2-storage-database\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/CO2_stored_map_web-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"A map of CO2Stored, which shows CO2 Storage units offshore UK. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/CO2_stored_map_web.jpg\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS news<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/more-than-60-new-co2-storage-units-added-to-bgs-national-co2-storage-database\/\">BGS adds more than 60 new carbon dioxide storage units to its national carbon dioxide storage database<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>30\/01\/2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS has delivered its first major update of the national carbon dioxide storage database, CO2 Stored.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/more-than-60-new-co2-storage-units-added-to-bgs-national-co2-storage-database\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  bgs-blogs\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/how-bgs-is-helping-the-farming-sector-of-great-britain\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/culver-down-p683813-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"The Lewes Nodular Chalk Formation contributes to the chemistry of overlying soils in Culver Down on the Isle of Wight. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/culver-down-p683813.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS blogs<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/how-bgs-is-helping-the-farming-sector-of-great-britain\/\">How BGS is helping the farming sector of Great Britain\u00a0<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>17\/01\/2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>New legislation concerning soil management and technology in modern farming has led to an increase in enquiries about BGS\u2019s Soil Parent Material Model.  <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/how-bgs-is-helping-the-farming-sector-of-great-britain\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  bgs-blogs\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/moving-stones-faults-slopes-and-sediments\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/P1038346-scaled-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"The Codleteth Burn catchment with its outlet fan system and recent debris flow deposits near Talla Linfoots. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/P1038346-scaled-1-960x640.jpg\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS blogs<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/moving-stones-faults-slopes-and-sediments\/\">Moving stones: faults, slopes and sediments<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>12\/01\/2024<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Fractured rock along faults affects sediment movement on slopes with implications for the design of infrastructure. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/moving-stones-faults-slopes-and-sediments\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  bgs-blogs\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/groundwater-in-taiwan-under-a-changing-environment\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/thousand-island-lake-Taiwan-feature-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Thousand-Island Lake in the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan. The lake provides the public water supply for Taiwan\u2019s capital city Taipei. \u00a9 John Bloomfield\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/thousand-island-lake-Taiwan-feature.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS blogs<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/groundwater-in-taiwan-under-a-changing-environment\/\">Groundwater in Taiwan under a changing environment<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>15\/12\/2023<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS\u2019s groundwater team is part of a project to develop the first groundwater forecasts for Taiwan.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/groundwater-in-taiwan-under-a-changing-environment\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  press-release\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-to-lead-new-research-project-on-barrier-systems-to-support-more-sustainable-coastal-management\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/setting-up-two-streamer-traps-of-mixed-sand-and-gravel-beach-east-coast-minsmere-cliffs-p1029949-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"setting-up-two-streamer-traps-of-mixed-sand-and-gravel beach-east-coast-minsmere-cliffs-p1029949\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/setting-up-two-streamer-traps-of-mixed-sand-and-gravel-beach-east-coast-minsmere-cliffs-p1029949-960x645.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS news<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-to-lead-new-research-project-on-barrier-systems-to-support-more-sustainable-coastal-management\/\">BGS to lead new research project on barrier systems to support more sustainable coastal management<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>06\/12\/2023<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Scientists at BGS will lead a new four-year project that will enhance our understanding of gravel barrier systems across the coastlines of the UK.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-to-lead-new-research-project-on-barrier-systems-to-support-more-sustainable-coastal-management\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  press-release\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-publication-included-in-environment-agencys-review-of-drought-in-the-uk\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dry-river-pang-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Dry River Pang, Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire, during the drought of 2022. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/dry-river-pang.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS news<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-publication-included-in-environment-agencys-review-of-drought-in-the-uk\/\">BGS publication included in Environment Agency\u2019s review of drought in the UK<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>05\/12\/2023<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A BGS essay on groundwater and drought has been included in the Environment Agency\u2019s review of the research and scientific understanding of drought.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/bgs-publication-included-in-environment-agencys-review-of-drought-in-the-uk\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  press-release\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/natural-flood-management-is-geology-more-important-than-trees\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/P1038306-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Monitoring storm water runoff in the catchment using autosamplers to gather information on the isotopic and chemical composition of the river waters, and how this changes across the catchment depending on land use. \u00a9 Leo Peskett \/ Heriot Watt\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/P1038306.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS news<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/natural-flood-management-is-geology-more-important-than-trees\/\">Natural flood management: is geology more important than trees?<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>23\/11\/2023<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Looking at innovative ways of creating resilience to flooding hazards with natural flood management.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/natural-flood-management-is-geology-more-important-than-trees\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  press-release\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/evidence-report-released-supplementing-the-assessment-of-deep-geothermal-energy-opportunities-in-the-uk\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/evidence-report-deep-thermal-energy-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Geothermal evidence report, titled \u2018Evidence report supporting the deep geothermal energy White Paper: the case for deep geothermal energy \u2013 unlocking investment at scale in the UK.\u2019 BGS \u00a9 UKRI.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/evidence-report-deep-thermal-energy.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>BGS news<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/evidence-report-released-supplementing-the-assessment-of-deep-geothermal-energy-opportunities-in-the-uk\/\">Evidence report on deep geothermal energy opportunities in the UK released<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>16\/11\/2023<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS has published a detailed evidence report that underpins a deep geothermal White Paper.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/evidence-report-released-supplementing-the-assessment-of-deep-geothermal-energy-opportunities-in-the-uk\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item cards  cards-find-more  \">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/the-optimisation-of-plutonium-separation\/\" class=\"media-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/sophia-dowell-150x150.webp\" class=\"lazy-blur wp-post-image\" alt=\"Sophia Dowell, PhD student at BGS, conducting her research in Kenya. BGS \u00a9 UKRI.\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/sophia-dowell.webp\" \/>\t<\/a>\n\t\t<div class=\"info-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"info\">\n\t\t\t<div>Research highlight<\/div>\n\t\t\t<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/the-optimisation-of-plutonium-separation\/\">The optimisation of plutonium separation<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<p>07\/11\/2023<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>BGS research leads to advancements in the detection of plutonium and ultimately the determination of soil erosion rates in tropical soils. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bgs.ac.uk\/news\/the-optimisation-of-plutonium-separation\/\">Show more<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most African countries have enough groundwater reserves to face at least five years of drought, new research reveals<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":83578,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"83392,71707,33241,82683,34127,80648","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[64],"tags":[1056,986,1011,1352,1319],"purpose":[],"challenge":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - 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