Archive · 28 May 2025
Study: Water Loss Causes Land Uplift in South Africa
Imagine the ground is like a giant sponge.
When it soaks up water, it's heavy.
When water is taken out during droughts, the sponge gets lighter, and the ground rises up a little bit, like a trampoline!
Scientists in South Africa noticed this happening.
They found that when water is lost from the ground, the land actually bounces back, causing it to rise.
This is happening all over South Africa.
It also shows that using too much water can cause the ground to shift.
We must conserve water to protect the ground.
Land in South Africa is experiencing an average uplift of 6 millimeters between 2012 and 2020.
Researchers attribute the uplift to loss of water from droughts and overconsumption.
Cape Town's drought from 2015-2018 provided a case study on the correlation between water loss and land rise.
South Africa's water usage per person is higher than the global average.
Urban planning and water management strategies need review to consider the long-term impacts of water loss.
- Who
- Researchers from the University of Bonn and other scientists
- What
- Land in South Africa is rising due to water loss from droughts and overuse.
- When
- Between 2012 and 2020
- Where
- South Africa
- Why
- Water loss leads to an upward rebound of the Earth's crust.
- Uplift Between 2012-2020
- 6 millimeters (average)
- SA Daily Water Use Per Person
- 237 liters
- Global Average Daily Water Use
- 173 liters
- Cape Town Drought
- 2015-2018