Lunar Water Limits: Million-Person Colony Would Drain Supply in 2 Years

A new study finds that a lunar colony of one million people would exhaust the Moon's water supply in about two years, posing a major challenge to human settlement plans. The research, co-authored by astronomer Martin Elvis, optimistically assumes one billion tons of water exists in shadowed polar craters. Even with 98% water recycling, this supply would last only about 100 years for a million residents. However, a smaller settlement of 1,000 to 10,000 people could sustain its water needs for centuries. The study, published in Frontiers, aims to assess the feasibility of ongoing lunar base plans.