What is groundwater? And how can we protect it?

We often look up at history’s greatest structures, but some of the most ingenious ones are hidden beneath our feet.

In India, ancient stepwells — built over a thousand years ago — show how societies once mastered water in some of the world’s driest regions. Today, those lessons matter more than ever.

Groundwater quietly sustains our modern world. It provides drinking water for over 2 billion people and supports half of global food production. But we’re using it faster than nature can replenish it, putting communities, agriculture, and ecosystems at risk.

In this video, we break down what groundwater is and how it works, why it’s being depleted around the world, and what some of the real-world impacts are in places like India and the American West.