WorldWide Drilling Resource

Groundwater Depletion in the U.S. Adapted from Information by the U.S. Geological Survey A new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study documents the Nation’s aquifers are being drawn down at an accelerated rate. The study, Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900-2008) , evaluates the long-term depletion volumes in 40 dif- ferent aquifers in the United States, combining reliable information from pre- vious references and new analyses. “Groundwater is one of the Nation’s most important natural resources. It pro- vides drinking water in both rural and urban communities. It supports irrigation and industry, sustains the flow of streams and rivers, and maintains ecosystems,” said Suzette Kimball, acting USGS direc- tor. “Because groundwater systems typ- ically respond slowly to human actions, a long-term perspective is vital to man- age this valuable resource in sustain- able ways.” To outline the scale of groundwater depletion in the U.S., here are a few of the startling facts from the study’s statistics. Between 1900-2008, the Nation’s aquifers decreased by more than twice the vol- ume of water found in Lake Erie. Ground- water depletion in the U.S. in the years 2000-2008 can explain more than 2% of the observed global sea-level rise during that period. Since 1950, the use of groundwa- ter resources for agricultural, industrial, and municipal purposes has greatly expanded in the United States. When groundwater is withdrawn from subsur- face storage faster than it is recharged by precipitation or other water sources, the result is groundwater depletion. The depletion has several negative conse- quences, including land subsidence, re- duced well yields, and diminished spring and stream flows. While the rate of depletion has in- 73 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2013 4 *+ .* *..*( ,$''$)" **'- !--*,$!-5 111 %!).! # ,$''$)"-/++'3 *( !,0$)" .#! ($)$)" $) /-.,3 .#,*/"#*/. .#! 1!-. ((!,- $.- ,$'' .!!' / - ,$''$)" '/$ - #,! *(+*/) - !1 !,/) *. ,3 $.- $. $+! ) '$)" **'- )"!)/$.3 ,$0! + ,&- !0 #*)! !-. $) .,!!. '&* !0 2 In Memoriam Terry Lee Alcock (1948~2013) Terry Lee Alcock passed away July 22, 2013, at the age of 65. Pursuing his passion of water well drilling, he founded Alcock Drilling, Inc. in Britton, Michigan; and operated the company for 43 years. He loved spending time with family and friends. He also enjoyed collect- ing antique hit-n-miss gas engines, John Deere tractors, and riding his Harley Davidson. Terry is survived by his significant other, Carol; sons Troy (Melanie) and Todd (Elizabeth); four grandchildren, and extended family. The management and staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® offer their sympathies to Terry’s family and friends. creased significantly since the 1950s, the maximum rates occurred during the most recent period of the study (2000-2008). During this time, it averaged almost 6.0 cubic miles per year, compared to the historical average over the entire time- span of the study (1900-2008) of 2.2 cubic miles per year. One of the best known and most studied aquifers in the U.S. is the High Plains (or Ogallala) aquifer. It underlies more than 170,000 square miles of the Nation’s midsection and represents the primary source of water for irrigation and drinking in the area. Substantial pumping of the High Plains aquifer for irrigation purposes, which began in the 1940s, has resulted in large water table declines, exceeding 160 feet in some places. The study also indicates, since 2000, depletion of the High Plains aquifer appears to be continuing at a high rate. Depletion during the last 8 years of record (2001-2008) is about 32% of the cumu- lative depletion in this aquifer during the entire 20th century. The annual rate of depletion during this recent period aver- aged about 2.4 cubic miles, roughly 2% of the volume of water in Lake Erie. I love this magazine - read it every month - always good articles. Buck Sanders Sanders Deep Well, Inc. Summerville, SC