The Largest US Groundwater Supply Is Running Out
Summary
The Ogallala Aquifer, the largest underground water supply in the U.S., is running out due to heavy use for farming irrigation. This decline threatens agricultural production, food prices, and rural economies in the Great Plains region.Key Facts
- The Ogallala Aquifer lies beneath eight states from South Dakota to Texas.
- It provides about 30% of the groundwater used for irrigation in the U.S.
- The aquifer supports around 20% of the country’s agricultural output.
- Water levels have dropped by more than 200 feet in some areas since the mid-1900s.
- Water is being used faster than nature can refill the aquifer, losing more than it gains each year.
- Farming crops like corn, wheat, and cotton depend heavily on this water.
- Climate change and droughts are expected to make water shortages worse.
- Up to 40% of the aquifer may no longer support irrigation within decades if the trend continues.
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