Your Well Water Comes from a Shrinking Aquifer

The Ogallala Aquifer stretches under eight states and covers the entire High Plains. In Lubbock County, farmers and rural homeowners have relied on it for irrigation and drinking water for generations. Thousands of irrigation wells across the region draw from this source.

The problem is that the aquifer recharges slowly — rainfall barely replaces what farming pulls out. Water levels have fallen over the decades. If you are buying rural land here, ask about well depth and current water levels. The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1, based in Lubbock, manages well permits and tracks water levels in the district.