Of the 13 billion gallons of rain that fall every day on the island of Hawaii, a mere 3% is retained by the land. Much of the rest soaks rapidly through permeable soil and rock and seeps into the sea. The continuous loss leaves three-quarters of the island with no streams or lakes to supply fresh water. Now, as a serendipitous byproduct of volcano research, scientists have found new freshwater sources that may not only enable Hawaiians to move into previously uninhabitable areas, but could also help meet the needs of the island's growing population for generations to come.
The...
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