Study warns storage loss in global small reservoirs
Summary
A study warns that small reservoirs globally are losing water storage capacity rapidly due to sedimentation, threatening water, food, and energy security for billions.
Key Points
- Small reservoirs worldwide lose 7.3% of their storage capacity every decade due to sedimentation.
- The Global REservoir Inventory database includes over 550,000 reservoirs, with more than 95% being small reservoirs less than one square kilometer.
- Sixteen global hotspots with severe sedimentation affect major irrigated agricultural regions, risking water and food security for over 2 billion people.
- Researchers warn that without action, more than half of the world's reservoirs could be significantly damaged by 2060, impacting water, food, and energy supplies.
