RESources in Coastal groundwater Under hydroclimatic Extremes (RESCUE)

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Groundwater is a critical resource providing 50% of all water used domestically and 25% of all water used for irrigation worldwide. However, despite the crucial role of groundwater, most of the subsurface remains unexplored for groundwater resources and we primarily use shallow onshore aquifers, limiting our knowledge and understanding of the potential for deeper groundwater. Recent research estimates that the volume of water in such deeper offshore aquifers is one hundred times greater than the amount extracted from the Earth's subsurface in the 20th century. In the context of ongoing water crises, the UN has placed emphasis on the importance of exploring for deep-onshore and offshore freshwater, among other unconventional water resources, to develop resilience of water-scarce communities against climate change. However, to date, there has been little or no exploration of deep-coastal and offshore resources in Europe. The primary challenge hindering the utilization of this new water source is the lack of knowledge. The RESCUE project aims to bridge this gap by building better understanding of deep-coastal and offshore freshwater aquifers through data collection, experiments, and modelling. We will also evaluate if these aquifers are financially viable to exploit, produce guidelines for their use and regulation, and disseminate information to key stakeholders about them. This will enable local and regional policy makers to lay the foundations for the consideration and use of these new resources. The sustainable use of deep-coastal and offshore groundwater will ultimately help secure a steady supply of water to both population and industry, in times of hydroclimatic extremes.