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InSAR Ground Deformation and Pumping Energy Consumption Reveal Urban Water Security

Marañon, Martin ; Durán, Alfredo ; Rocha, Rigel ; Winder, Monika ; Ledo, Carmen ; Martinez, Virgilio LU orcid ; Mendoza, Alfredo LU orcid and Jaramillo, Fernando (2026) In Water Resources Research 62(1).
Abstract
Water resource assessments are critical for ensuring water security (WS), particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions with increasing water demand and limited water monitoring capabilities. Earth observations and indirect indicators of surface and groundwater changes are valuable tools for developing such assessments. This study examines WS by combining trends in pumping energy consumption and water-induced ground deformation over time and space in the sprawling metropolitan region of Cochabamba, Bolivia. We integrate Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data with pumping energy consumption records from an extensive well network in the period 2012 to 2022. Statistical analysis identifies four trends in energy consumption (increasing,... (More)
Water resource assessments are critical for ensuring water security (WS), particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions with increasing water demand and limited water monitoring capabilities. Earth observations and indirect indicators of surface and groundwater changes are valuable tools for developing such assessments. This study examines WS by combining trends in pumping energy consumption and water-induced ground deformation over time and space in the sprawling metropolitan region of Cochabamba, Bolivia. We integrate Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data with pumping energy consumption records from an extensive well network in the period 2012 to 2022. Statistical analysis identifies four trends in energy consumption (increasing, decreasing, stable, and no consumption) and three in ground deformation (uplift, subsidence, and no change). Based on these trends, we define four WS scenarios: WS, Threatened Water Security, water insecurity (WI), and Reversible Water Insecurity. Results reveal predominant domestic groundwater use and an increasing trend in energy consumption by pumping. In more than 1000 of these wells, both unsustainable water use and subsidence occur, implying WI. This study demonstrates the potential of combining InSAR-derived ground deformation and pumping energy consumption as a cost-effective and scalable groundwater monitoring tool for WS assessments. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Water resource assessments are critical for ensuring water security (WS), particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions with increasing water demand and limited water monitoring capabilities. Earth observations and indirect indicators of surface and groundwater changes are valuable tools for developing such assessments. This study examines WS by combining trends in pumping energy consumption and water-induced ground deformation over time and space in the sprawling metropolitan region of Cochabamba, Bolivia. We integrate Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data with pumping energy consumption records from an extensive well network in the period 2012 to 2022. Statistical analysis identifies four trends in energy consumption (increasing,... (More)
Water resource assessments are critical for ensuring water security (WS), particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions with increasing water demand and limited water monitoring capabilities. Earth observations and indirect indicators of surface and groundwater changes are valuable tools for developing such assessments. This study examines WS by combining trends in pumping energy consumption and water-induced ground deformation over time and space in the sprawling metropolitan region of Cochabamba, Bolivia. We integrate Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data with pumping energy consumption records from an extensive well network in the period 2012 to 2022. Statistical analysis identifies four trends in energy consumption (increasing, decreasing, stable, and no consumption) and three in ground deformation (uplift, subsidence, and no change). Based on these trends, we define four WS scenarios: WS, Threatened Water Security, water insecurity (WI), and Reversible Water Insecurity. Results reveal predominant domestic groundwater use and an increasing trend in energy consumption by pumping. In more than 1000 of these wells, both unsustainable water use and subsidence occur, implying WI. This study demonstrates the potential of combining InSAR-derived ground deformation and pumping energy consumption as a cost-effective and scalable groundwater monitoring tool for WS assessments. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Water Resources Research
volume
62
issue
1
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:105027731975
ISSN
0043-1397
DOI
10.1029/2025WR040704
project
Groundwater Recharge Processes and its relationship with its environment in semi-arid Inter-Andean Valleys. Study case: Central Valley of Cochabamba, Bolivia
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ad2904fa-e5c2-45de-aaa6-5da849624a62
date added to LUP
2026-01-28 21:03:11
date last changed
2026-01-30 14:33:33
@article{ad2904fa-e5c2-45de-aaa6-5da849624a62,
  abstract     = {{Water resource assessments are critical for ensuring water security (WS), particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions with increasing water demand and limited water monitoring capabilities. Earth observations and indirect indicators of surface and groundwater changes are valuable tools for developing such assessments. This study examines WS by combining trends in pumping energy consumption and water-induced ground deformation over time and space in the sprawling metropolitan region of Cochabamba, Bolivia. We integrate Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar data with pumping energy consumption records from an extensive well network in the period 2012 to 2022. Statistical analysis identifies four trends in energy consumption (increasing, decreasing, stable, and no consumption) and three in ground deformation (uplift, subsidence, and no change). Based on these trends, we define four WS scenarios: WS, Threatened Water Security, water insecurity (WI), and Reversible Water Insecurity. Results reveal predominant domestic groundwater use and an increasing trend in energy consumption by pumping. In more than 1000 of these wells, both unsustainable water use and subsidence occur, implying WI. This study demonstrates the potential of combining InSAR-derived ground deformation and pumping energy consumption as a cost-effective and scalable groundwater monitoring tool for WS assessments.}},
  author       = {{Marañon, Martin and Durán, Alfredo and Rocha, Rigel and Winder, Monika and Ledo, Carmen and Martinez, Virgilio and Mendoza, Alfredo and Jaramillo, Fernando}},
  issn         = {{0043-1397}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Water Resources Research}},
  title        = {{InSAR Ground Deformation and Pumping Energy Consumption Reveal Urban Water Security}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2025WR040704}},
  doi          = {{10.1029/2025WR040704}},
  volume       = {{62}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}