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5.2.2: Impacts of Groundwater Withdrawals for Irrigation

  • Page ID
    48214
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    Where surface water supplies are insufficient, groundwater is often used for irrigation (Figure 4.2.3). Agriculture uses about 70% of the groundwater pumped for human use globally and about 53% of the groundwater pumped in the US (USGS: Groundwater use in the United States). In some parts of the world, groundwater is pumped at a faster rate than natural processes recharge the stored underground water. Groundwater use where pumping exceeds recharge is non-renewable and unsustainable.

    Another problem that may occur in some aquifers with excessive groundwater pumping is a compaction of the aquifer and subsidence of the ground surface. When the water is pumped from the pore spaces in the aquifer, the pore spaces compress. The compression of millions of tiny pore spaces in hundreds of meters of aquifer material manifests on the surface as subsidence. The ground elevation actually decreases. Subsidence from groundwater pumping is irreversible and leaves the aquifer in a condition where it cannot be recharged to previous levels.

    Our reliance on and depletion of groundwater resources is becoming a global concern as aquifers are being pumped at unsustainable rates in the US (Figure 4.2.4) and all over the world. Enhanced irrigation efficiencies and conservation measures are being implemented when possible to prolong the life of some aquifers. Unfortunately, groundwater is often the water resource that we turn to in times of drought or when other surface-water resources have been depleted. For example, in California during the recent drought, farmers drilled wells and used groundwater to save their crops when surface water resources were not available.

    groundwater withdrawal.png

    Figure 4.2.3.: Groundwater withdrawals, by State, 2005. Credit: USGS: Groundwater use in the United States

    Click for a text description of the groundwater withdrawals image

    This map of the U.S. shows total groundwater withdraws by state, in millions of gallons per day. California has the highest at 20,000 - 60,000. Nebraska follows at 10,000 - 20,000. Texas and Arkansas are 5,000 - 10,000, Mississippi, Florida, Colorado, Kansas, Arizona, Oregon, and Idaho are each 2,000 - 5,000. The rest of the country is 0 - 2000.

    groundwater depletion.png

    Figure 4.2.4.: Map of the United States (excluding Alaska) showing cumulative groundwater depletion, 1900 through 2008, in 40 assessed aquifer systems or subareas. Colors are hatched in the Dakota aquifer where the aquifer overlaps with other aquifers having different values of depletion. Credit: USGS: Groundwater depletion

    Knowledge Check

    Read the following article:

    Rosenberg, David M., Patrick McCully, and Catherine M. Pringle. "Global-scale environmental effects of hydrological alterations: introduction." BioScience 50.9 (2000): 746-751.


    Knowledge Check (flashcards)

    Please take a few minutes to think about what you learned from reading the article, then consider how you would answer the questions on the cards below. Click "Turn" to see the correct answer on the reverse side of each card.

    Card 1:

    Front: What is meant by hydrologic alteration?

    Back: Hydrologic alteration is an human-made disruption to natural river flows, including dams and diversions. The hydrologic alteration can also include pumping from groundwater, but this article focuses on large dams.

    Card 2:

    Front: What are the major impacts of hydrologic alteration by dams?

    Back: Dam can affect both aquatic and riparian ecosystems, block fish passage, change temperature, affect offshore marine areas, contribute to the extinction of species, and affect nutrient cycling. Some rivers, such as the Nile and the Colorado no longer reach the sea.

    Card 3:

    Front: What is the connection between agricultural food production and hydrologic alteration of the world’s river systems?

    Back: Globally, 70% of human water consumption is for irrigation, so agriculture is a significant contributor to the impacts of dams and diversions on our river systems.


    This page titled 5.2.2: Impacts of Groundwater Withdrawals for Irrigation is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Heather Karsten & Steven Vanek (John A. Dutton: e-Education Institute) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.