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The Western U.S. is facing a growing groundwater crisis, exacerbated by rising temperatures and increased water demand. A legal expert proposes multiple reforms to preserve this critical resource.
#### Why It Matters
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, groundwater provides drinking water for about half of the total U.S. population and nearly all rural residents.
#### What to Know
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University of New Mexico law professor Warigia Bowman suggests stricter groundwater regulations. “We either make changes or run out of water. The situation is dire but fixable,” she said in an interview published by Phys.org. “By 2100, many places will run out of groundwater.”
Bowman’s recommendations, published in the *Ohio State University Law Journal*, focus on four key reforms:
1. **Refining Safe Yield Doctrine**: Bowman proposes defining specific timeframes for measuring and managing groundwater to ensure sustainable extraction.
“An annual timeframe would be a good start, with longer intervals allowing water managers and scientists to evaluate aquifer management outcomes.”
2. **Regulating Domestic and Livestock Wells**: Most Western states do not require metering of these wells. Bowman argues that without accurate measurement, water use from such wells can exceed limits set by the Office of the State Engineer.
3. **Comprehensive Metering**: Both federal and state governments should incentivize farmers to install meters. Data generated by metering should be used for active groundwater monitoring across entire states.
4. **Uniform Regulations**: Bowman suggests adopting consistent, stringent regulations that apply uniformly across all regions instead of a patchwork of rules.
#### What People Are Saying
“Farmers might not like metering, but they’ll prefer it to having no water,” said Bowman, as reported by Phys.org. She also emphasized the need for behavioral change among producers: “Much land in the western U.S. should not be farmed.”
#### What Happens Next
A recent study found that increasing wastewater recycling to 40% in the Colorado River Basin could save around 900,000 acre-feet of water annually—enough for nearly two million homes.
The states relying on the Colorado River are also negotiating new water-sharing agreements by 2026.
đź“š Reading Comprehension Quiz
According to Warigia Bowman, what is one of her key recommendations to address the groundwater crisis in the Western U.S.?
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