Groundwater information |
Most of the groundwater used in Texas is used for agriculture. Although the percentages vary slightly from year to year, about 80 percent of all groundwater used in Texas is for irrigating crops. Groundwater is also an important water source for several cities. For example, Amarillo, Bryan-College Station, El Paso, Lubbock, Houston and San Antonio use groundwater to supply water for homes, businesses and industry. Statewide, groundwater comes from some 32 Texas aquifers. According to the Texas Water Development Board, nine aquifers supply about 97 percent of the groundwater we use. Abandoned Wells Aquifers Drinking Water Treatment Groundwater Conservation Districts In many parts of the state, more groundwater is being used than is being replenished through natural means. If this practice continues, Texas water costs will rise, land could subside, water quality could decline and people in some areas could run out of water. To address this problem, the Texas Legislature has provided a way for groundwater resources to be managed and protected locally, through the creation of groundwater conservation districts. More PublicationsDeep Trouble: Options for Managing the Hidden Threat of Aquifer Depletion in Texas, Ronald A. Kaiser and Frank K. Skiller Links |