04/06/2026
Protecting OUR Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer: A Critical Resource We All Depend On
Freshwater is astonishingly scarce. Only about 2.5–3% of all water on the planet is freshwater, and roughly 68–69% of that is locked away in ice caps and glaciers. Another 30% exists as groundwater, leaving less than 1% as accessible surface water in lakes, rivers, and swamps. When you factor in contamination from pathogens and chemicals, the amount of easily accessible, unpolluted liquid freshwater drops to roughly 0.003% of Earth’s total water supply. The vast majority (~97%) is unusable saltwater in the oceans.
In South Jersey, we are fortunate to have one of nature’s best answers to this scarcity: the Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer system. This massive, shallow, highly permeable unconfined aquifer holds over 17 trillion gallons of water. It serves as the primary drinking water source for communities across the region and sustains the ecologically vital Pine Barrens.
Because the aquifer is shallow and unconfined, it recharges relatively quickly from rainfall, but this same feature makes it especially vulnerable to over-pumping and pollution from surface activities like development, agriculture, and industry. Once contaminated, cleaning it is extremely difficult and costly.
Protecting the Kirkwood-Cohansey isn’t optional, it’s essential. It literally is the water we drink, the water that keeps our rivers and wetlands healthy, and the foundation for our region’s future. With so little clean freshwater available globally, responsibly managing and safeguarding this precious local resource ensures clean, reliable water for generations to come in South Jersey.
Want to take action? The first thing you can do is sign this petition sponsored by the Pinelands Alliance:
 https://www.change.org/p/prohibit-ai-data-centers-in-the-pinelands