Conclusions

The modern perspective on hazards associated with water supply shortage due to earthquakes reveals that modern societies can deal with this problem by: (1) Increasing depth of old wells or re-drilling new wells; (2) Fixing broken water distribution systems within a relatively short time; (3) Bringing water supplies from outside the area of disaster by various means of transportation (from trucks to vessels and aircraft); (4) Using a variety of containers (from water bottles to tankers) to store water; (5) Providing timely information to potential donors and international humanitarian organizations. These measures exclude potential possibilities of a population to move or migrate due to the shortage of water supply since interruption of the supply is only temporary due to the technical mobilization of the post-disaster management efforts, as described above. In an interview regarding the Pymatuning earthquake of 1996, one of the residents was asked: ‘What would you do if you did not have supplied bottle water and help from the fire department that provided daily water for bath tubs?’ The answer was: ‘I would move

Modern cases of disrupted water supply due to earthquake activity provide us with unparalleled availability of scientific data and research results on how earthquake activity affects groundwater supplies. An abundance of reports, papers, and media news offers a wealth of general information, but scientific information is often limited because scientists collect data pertinent only to their specific disciplines. For example, seismologists record seismic activity in attempts to predict future risks due to aftershocks, geologists record changes in geologic structures to improve seismic zonation and safety of infrastructure and settlements, etc. If there are any hydrologic effects of an earthquake, a hydrologist might be involved as well. However, there are only a few reports that combine multidisciplinary findings into one study.

Available, albeit limited, multidisciplinary studies allow us to summarize the following high-risk geological factors related to hydrologic effects of earthquakes: existence of heterogeneous or perched aquifers and location of wells on high elevations above river valleys. Though these findings are derived from only two studies where locations of wells that went dry and wells that overflowed were mapped (i. e. Fleeger et al., 1999; National Committee for Countermeasures Against Landslides, 1969), other reports and studies provide similar evidence. ‘The present is the key to the past’ (Lyell, 1830): modern geological findings and established models, like the Pymatuning model, can be used for analysis and interpretation of historic events in conjunction with archaeological data to demonstrate potential effects of earthquakes on ancient settlements.

The proportion of locations affected and associated economic and social impact remain unknown; no systematic research exists on the associated risks. This applies to both the ancient and modern perspectives.