Articles | Volume 28, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1605-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-1605-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Opinion article
| 
11 Apr 2024
Opinion article |
| 11 Apr 2024
| 11 Apr 2024
HESS Opinions: The unsustainable use of groundwater conceals a “Day Zero”
Camila Alvarez-Garreton
Center for Climate and Resilience Research CR2, FONDAP 1523A0002, Santiago, Chile
Center for Climate and Resilience Research CR2, FONDAP 1523A0002, Santiago, Chile
Department of Geophysics, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
René Garreaud
Center for Climate and Resilience Research CR2, FONDAP 1523A0002, Santiago, Chile
Department of Geophysics, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Javier González
Bluedot Consulting, Santiago, Chile
Roberto Rondanelli
Center for Climate and Resilience Research CR2, FONDAP 1523A0002, Santiago, Chile
Department of Geophysics, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Eugenia Gayó
Center for Climate and Resilience Research CR2, FONDAP 1523A0002, Santiago, Chile
Department of Geography, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Mauricio Zambrano-Bigiarini
Center for Climate and Resilience Research CR2, FONDAP 1523A0002, Santiago, Chile
Department of Civil Engineering, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile
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Cited
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Identifying a Minimum Time Period of Streamflow Recession Records to Analyze the Behavior of Groundwater Storage Systems: A Study in Heterogeneous Chilean Watersheds V. Parra et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16121741
- The socio-cultural implications of glacier retreat demand further attention: a case study from Cerro El Plomo in Santiago, Chile K. Altemus Cullen et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2025.1564881
- An unseasonal atmospheric river drives anomalous summer snow accumulation on glaciers of the subtropical Andes C. Bravo et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1897-2025
- The Mirage of Drinking Water Security in Chilean Patagonia: A Socio-Ecological Perspective C. Frêne et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188519
- Evaluating the impact of PROTs on water security: A study of basins in Chile K. Silva-Urrutia et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2026.2706248
- Soil Fungal Activity and Microbial Response to Wildfire in a Dry Tropical Forest of Northern Colombia E. Martínez Mera et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17080546
- Lake water response to the recent megadrought in the Andes of northern and central Chile (18°S-39°S) M. Fuentealba et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134448
- Hydrogeology, European colonialism, local communities and First Peoples: moving beyond business as usual S. Bourke et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-025-02955-7
- Increasing water stress in Chile revealed by novel datasets of water availability, land use and water use J. Boisier et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-5185-2025
- Numerical simulation and analysis of groundwater response to ecological water recharge in an alluvial fan system B. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2025.104208
- The influence of human activities on streamflow reductions during the megadrought in central Chile N. Álamos et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2483-2024
- Review article: Drought as a continuum – memory effects in interlinked hydrological, ecological, and social systems A. Van Loon et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3173-2024
- City boundaries for global urban water scarcity assessment K. Kajiyama et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-06933-w
- Snow Cover Trends in the Chilean Andes Derived from 39 Years of Landsat Data and a Projection for the Year 2050 A. Dietz et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17091651
- Managed aquifer recharge implementation challenges: Lessons from Chile's water-scarce regions R. Rivera-Vidal et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101502
- Hydrogeological response of the Complex Terminal Aquifer of Kebili (Tunisia, North-Western Sahara Aquifer System) to future exploitation and climate scenarios M. Trigui et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-025-02980-6
- Hyperdroughts in central Chile: drivers, impacts, and projections R. Garreaud et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-5347-2025
17 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Identifying a Minimum Time Period of Streamflow Recession Records to Analyze the Behavior of Groundwater Storage Systems: A Study in Heterogeneous Chilean Watersheds V. Parra et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/w16121741
- The socio-cultural implications of glacier retreat demand further attention: a case study from Cerro El Plomo in Santiago, Chile K. Altemus Cullen et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2025.1564881
- An unseasonal atmospheric river drives anomalous summer snow accumulation on glaciers of the subtropical Andes C. Bravo et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1897-2025
- The Mirage of Drinking Water Security in Chilean Patagonia: A Socio-Ecological Perspective C. Frêne et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188519
- Evaluating the impact of PROTs on water security: A study of basins in Chile K. Silva-Urrutia et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2026.2706248
- Soil Fungal Activity and Microbial Response to Wildfire in a Dry Tropical Forest of Northern Colombia E. Martínez Mera et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17080546
- Lake water response to the recent megadrought in the Andes of northern and central Chile (18°S-39°S) M. Fuentealba et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134448
- Hydrogeology, European colonialism, local communities and First Peoples: moving beyond business as usual S. Bourke et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-025-02955-7
- Increasing water stress in Chile revealed by novel datasets of water availability, land use and water use J. Boisier et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-5185-2025
- Numerical simulation and analysis of groundwater response to ecological water recharge in an alluvial fan system B. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2025.104208
- The influence of human activities on streamflow reductions during the megadrought in central Chile N. Álamos et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2483-2024
- Review article: Drought as a continuum – memory effects in interlinked hydrological, ecological, and social systems A. Van Loon et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-3173-2024
- City boundaries for global urban water scarcity assessment K. Kajiyama et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-06933-w
- Snow Cover Trends in the Chilean Andes Derived from 39 Years of Landsat Data and a Projection for the Year 2050 A. Dietz et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17091651
- Managed aquifer recharge implementation challenges: Lessons from Chile's water-scarce regions R. Rivera-Vidal et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2025.101502
- Hydrogeological response of the Complex Terminal Aquifer of Kebili (Tunisia, North-Western Sahara Aquifer System) to future exploitation and climate scenarios M. Trigui et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-025-02980-6
- Hyperdroughts in central Chile: drivers, impacts, and projections R. Garreaud et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-5347-2025
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 01 Aug 2026
Short summary
This opinion paper reflects on the risks of overusing groundwater savings to supply permanent water use requirements. Using novel data recently developed for Chile, we reveal how groundwater is being overused, causing ecological and socioeconomic impacts and concealing a Day Zero
scenario. Our argument underscores the need for reformed water allocation rules and sustainable management, shifting from a perception of groundwater as an unlimited source to a finite and vital one.
This opinion paper reflects on the risks of overusing groundwater savings to supply permanent...
