groundwater

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Well Water Metering? Not on My Land, Says California Landowners

Wee, H. (2015, May 13). Well Water Metering? Not on My Land, Say California Landowners. Retrieved August 24, 2015, from http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/california-drought/well-water-metering-not-my-land-say-california-landowners-n358296

Dry years have led to an increase in groundwater pumping. Unfortunately, groundwater is a nonrenewable resource. Gov. Jerry Brown signed in a law requiring local districts to measure the amount of groundwater in their vicinity. This is seen as the first step to requiring private landowners to report the amount of water they’re pumping. Many view the groundwater under their land as theirs, and many are angry at the prospect of being forced to report the amount of water they’re pumping. However, decades of groundwater extraction has lead large amounts of land sinking. As the drought worsens, more and more people are applying for water and drilling permits. Meanwhile, those who already own pumping mechanisms are pumping deeper and deeper. Limits on groundwater pumping are expected to come sometime in the future.

This issue involves a variety of topics relevant to environmental science. Private landowners think that the groundwater is theirs, and therefore they may pump as much as they want to. In reality however, groundwater flows, meaning that one water pumper is most likely “stealing” groundwater from another person’s land. Pumping is also collapsing land, affecting everyone. The question is, does the government have the right to regulate groundwater pumping? The groundwater is, after all, on private property. I believe that they do, since groundwater is a nonrenewable and easily exploitable resource. Private landowners fail to understand Tragedy of the Commons and that groundwater is a community resource. Without intervention, groundwater will be used up and land will sink severely.

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San Francisco wants to use groundwater for tap water

Alexander, K. (2014, November 23).  California drought: SF wants to add groundwater to tap. Bay Area and State: San Francisco Chronicle.

Retrieved November 23 from

http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/California-drought-S-F-wants-to-add-this-to-5913205.php#/0

 

Multiple spigots in San Francisco “will start delivering the Sierra supply blended with a splash of local groundwater — by many measures, a far inferior source.” This local groundwater is not as clean as the Sierra runoff. However, city officials ensure that “the underground reserves are sufficiently clean and palatable.” Jeff Gilman who is the project manager says that he doesn’t think people will notice a difference in their tap water. He states, “It tastes the same. Color is the same. Odor is the same.”

 

This article reminded me how serious this drought is. We now have to dig into the groundwater to drink. Although it is groundwater, it is treated and is completely safe and tastes normal. The Sierra snowmelt is in decline and this plan seems to make sense. David Sedlak, a professor at UC Berkeley, stated, “Already, many water agencies across California incorporate groundwater into their supplies, he noted, with about 80 percent of Californians relying on some amount of groundwater for their daily needs.” Now the concern is how much groundwater can we use until it’s gone?