Groundwater

During the 20^th century, armies conducted many major operations in areas without enough surface water to meet operational requirements. Geologists were used in World War I to locate and develop groundwater resources by deep drilling. More recently, locating groundwater sources in the Saudi desert during the Gulf War was made possible by using geological expertise. In the Balkans, geologists were employed to locate and develop groundwater for peacekeeping operation base camps. Groundwater is often ideal for these semi-permanent installations, housing thousands of troops, because wells require little maintenance and well yields generally remain constant over time. When comparing drinking water sources, groundwater has advantages over both surface water, which requires treatment, and bottled water, which is prohibitive in terms of both cost and logistical requirements. Groundwater will continue to be a critical source of water for military operations in the future.