In a significant shift, western states are gaining ground in the battle to conserve their precious groundwater resources.
Christopher Flavelle reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Recent court decisions in Idaho, Nevada and Montana have empowered states to enforce stricter groundwater usage rules to combat overpumping.
- The rulings are part of a broader movement that includes California’s steps to penalize over-extraction and the White House’s consultation with scientists on federal support.
- These measures address the critical decline in groundwater levels, a vital source for drinking water and agriculture exacerbated by climate change.
Key quote:
“This is truly exciting. There has been stuff like this off and on, but not in such a short period of time across the western states.”
— Upmanu Lall, director of both the Water Institute at ASU and the Columbia Water Center at Columbia University.
Why this matters:
Groundwater depletion poses a threat to the sustainability of drinking water supplies, agricultural productivity and urban development. Whereas deference to water rights established in a bygone era have maintained a legacy of water injustice, these recent court decisions signal a pivotal shift to more equitable water considerations.
