Welcome to the new monthly e-newsletter from EDF’s Climate Resilient Water Systems team. It seemed fitting to launch this effort on World Water Day because the theme this year aligns so closely with our work: “Groundwater — Making the Invisible, Visible.”
Over these past two challenging years, the pandemic, my own health issues and family needs have highlighted some major flaws in our health care system that reminded me of … groundwater. When a crisis arrives, our response can be quick, aggressive and sometimes even highly effective. This same system isn’t as good at long-term health — supporting the patient in their ongoing well-being, anticipating possible or even likely future conditions, and taking actions in advance to avoid a crisis.
I see a similar pattern in how we manage our groundwater. When there’s an obvious crisis from groundwater depletion (wells going dry, land subsidence or saltwater intrusion, for instance), we jump to action, attempting to treat a long-declining patient with a single surgical procedure. Sure, we need these procedures, but often we do them without the support of the whole health care system.
