MOSCOW, 22 Jan. The western half of the United States is experiencing a protracted mega-drought that is putting severe pressure on water resources across the region, Newsweek writes.
If the situation does not change in the next ten to twenty, it could lead to «catastrophic consequences» for the entire country.
«Another one or two decades of drought will significantly deplete aquifers, resulting not only in the loss of groundwater resources, but also in land subsidence, which will cause overall damage to public infrastructure «, — warned one of the leaders of the Institute for Environmental and Energy Management Jonathan Deason.
According to U.S. Drought Monitor, 65 percent of the continental United States is experiencing some form of drought or abnormally dry conditions.
«Among the hardest hit states are Utah, Oregon, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma, all of which have areas experiencing extreme drought,” the publication says.
According to experts, a serious improvement in the situation should not be expected in the near future, because, even when the drought subsides, “it will take several years for a serious recovery, during which the amount of precipitation should exceed the average.