The Impacts of Pumping Groundwater

Pumping groundwater has been a very reliable water source for years. Did you know that pumping too much groundwater can lead to ground subsidence? Some areas of the San Joaquin Valley in California have subsided as much as 28 feet since 1920. Follow this link for more details from the USGS on the San Joaquin Valley land subsidence. When drought conditions occur and surface water doesn't meet demand, the next reliable resource is to pump groundwater, which potentially has crucial impacts. Where do we turn next? My water resources professor at Texas A&M University challenged us to find a cost effective and efficient way to desalinate water. Anyone feeling inventive? -Lorraine Alff, EIT