Scientists Make Unusual Discovery Underneath Seafloor Off Cape Cod Coast

Scientists have made an unusual discovery off the northeastern coast of the United States. 

Large reservoirs of freshwater have been discovered beneath the seafloor, offering hope in the fight against water scarcity worldwide.

According to a report by The Cool Down, this discovery was made through drilling off the coast of Cape Cod. There, upon pulling up thousands of liters of fresh and nearly freshwater, researchers have theorized that a substantial undersea aquifer exists, extending from New Jersey to Maine.

Some of the samples taken have revealed salinity levels as low as one part per thousand, comparable to many lakes and rivers on land. While the water itself is not immediately ready for human consumption, the discovery of the water source could pave the way for new methods to obtain drinking water.

This discovery comes at a critical time when rising sea levels, droughts, and increased water consumption are worsening water shortages. Undersea aquifers like this one could serve as emergency reserves for freshwater. 

Researchers stress the importance of understanding the water's source and natural replenishment before considering extraction. They stress that further studies are needed to determine the aquifer's age, its natural replenishment rates, and sustainability, as well as to evaluate risks such as land subsidence from over-extraction.

"We need to look for every possibility we have to find more water for society," Brandon Dugan, co-chief scientist of the mission and a geophysicist at the Colorado School of Mines, said in a statement shared with The Associated Press.