In a discovery that could reshape our understanding of global water resources, scientists have confirmed the existence of a massive freshwater aquifer beneath the Atlantic Ocean, stretching from New Jersey to Maine. The find was made this summer during Expedition 501, an international mission drilling off Cape Cod.
The story dates back to 1976, when researchers searching for oil and gas first noticed traces of fresh water seeping out of seabed cores. For decades, the phenomenon remained a mystery. Now, nearly 50 years later, scientists have returned with advanced technology — and the results are remarkable.
From May to July 2025, researchers used the Liftboat Robert, a vessel normally servicing oil rigs, to bore almost 400 meters into marine sediments. There, they discovered water with salinity levels as low as 1 part per thousand, comparable to many land-based freshwater sources. Early estimates suggest this undersea aquifer could hold enough water to supply New York City for centuries.
“This is one of the last places you would probably look for fresh water on Earth,” said Brandon Dugan, a geophysicist at the Colorado School of Mines.
Scientists believe the aquifer may have formed from glacial melt as far back as 450,000 years ago, or from rainwater when sea levels were much lower. A critical question now is whether the water is “young” and still recharging — making it renewable — or if it is a finite, ancient reserve. Over 50,000 liters of samples are being tested across laboratories worldwide to determine age, chemistry, and potential usability.
The potential is vast, but so are the risks. Offshore drilling is expensive, legal ownership remains unclear, and ecosystems may depend on slow leakage of this freshwater into the ocean. “If we were to go out and start pumping these waters, there would almost certainly be unforeseen consequences,” cautioned Rob Evans, a Woods Hole geophysicist.
There are also biological unknowns. Researchers warn that the water may contain harmful minerals or microbes, though similar underground processes give rise to the aquifers that supply billions of people on land.
With the United Nations projecting a 40% gap between global freshwater demand and supply by 2030, discoveries like this are gaining urgency. As coastal cities face rising seas and saltwater intrusion, and as industries like data centers consume billions of gallons for cooling, offshore aquifers may emerge as emergency lifelines.
Still, experts agree: careful science must guide the way. The Expedition 501 team will reconvene in Germany in 2026 to compare findings before publishing their first results. Until then, the image remains striking — vast stores of fresh water hidden beneath the salty Atlantic, a reminder of Earth’s untapped resources and the responsibility of using them wisely.
Source & Image: https://surl.li/vhnwnz
