Human Water Use Increases Number Of California Earthquakes: Study

CALIFORNIA -- Human water use in California could be the reason behind an increase in earthquakes in the state. A study published recently in Nature said the use and extraction of groundwater affects the mountains and valleys.

The study comes as the state experiences its third driest winter on record. State officials are also considering permanent water restrictions.

The study said, "Groundwater use in California’s San Joaquin Valley exceeds replenishment of the aquifer, leading to substantial diminution of this resource and rapid subsidence of the valley floor. The volume of groundwater lost over the past century and a half also represents a substantial reduction in mass and a large-scale unburdening of the lithosphere, with significant but unexplored potential impacts on crustal deformation and seismicity."

The changes in the earth are most apparent during dry months, researchers said.

"The height of the adjacent central Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada is strongly seasonal and peaks during the dry late summer and autumn, out of phase with uplift of the valley floor during wetter months. Our results suggest that long-term and late-summer flexural uplift of the Coast Ranges reduce the effective normal stress resolved on the San Andreas Fault," the study read.

Researchers said the use of groundwater "brings the fault closer to failure" and "potentially affects long-term seismicity rates for fault systems adjacent to the valley."

On Tuesday, John Leahigh, an engineer for the state Department of Water Resources, told officials that 80 percent of California is abnormally dry or in a drought.

California's Water Resources Control Board will consider in April whether to impose water restrictions on residents.

--Photo via Shutterstock

Also See:

CA In Seismic Drought But Big Earthquake Coming, Professor Says

Earthquake Swarm Hits Danville, Alamo

California Headed Back To Drought, Report Says