Which of the following accurately represents a future risk associated with groundwater use?

Groundwater use can lead to a variety of future risks, and one of the most pressing concerns is water table depletion. As groundwater is extracted for various uses such as agricultural irrigation, municipal supply, and industrial applications, the balance between recharge and withdrawal can become unfavorable. When more water is removed than is replenished through natural processes, the water table begins to lower, which can result in several consequences.

These include reduced availability of water for future use, deterioration of water quality as remaining groundwater can become more concentrated with pollutants, and increased costs associated with deeper drilling for wells. Water table depletion can also lead to land subsidence, where the ground above sinks due to the loss of water support, impacting infrastructure and ecosystems.

On the other hand, increasing surface water quality, excessive biological diversity, and urban congestion do not directly represent risks associated with groundwater use. For instance, surface water quality might improve or remain unaffected by groundwater use, and high biological diversity is typically viewed as a positive environmental outcome. Similarly, urban congestion is more related to population density and land use planning rather than groundwater extraction practices.