Wells drying up at South Dakota homes and ranches due to heat and drought
Summary
Many homes and ranches in western South Dakota are running low on water because wells are drying up due to a long drought and high heat. People like the Howie family are having to buy water and use public water stations more often to meet their daily needs.Key Facts
- Wells in western South Dakota, especially shallow ones, are running slow or have gone dry due to a long drought and less snowfall in winter.
- The drought and heat in 2026 have made water supplies worse for homes, farms, and animals in the area.
- Gordon and Connie Howie, ranchers near Rapid City, struggle with low water flow and must buy bottled water and haul large tanks to care for their cattle.
- Underground aquifers, which supply water to many wells, have dropped in level because of less rain and more water use.
- Many residents rely on self-serve water stations where you pay to get fresh water from a spout into tanks or trucks.
- These water stations are busier than usual, especially in Rapid City, because natural water sources are not enough.
- The drought is described as the worst in decades by locals who have lived there all their lives.
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