Short Wave The world has a groundwater problem. Can we solve it?
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Mar 24, 2026 A deep dive into shrinking aquifers and why groundwater matters for half the world’s water. A Kansas farmer recounts falling well levels and local attempts to find sustainable pumping. Scientists and satellites reveal where aquifers are draining fastest and where management has led to recovery. Discussion covers data gaps, economic hurdles for crop changes, and cross-border cooperation challenges.
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Farmer Sees Ogallala Wells Falling
- Hayes Kelman noticed wells on his family farm in western Kansas dropping since high school, forcing removal of sprinklers and reduced irrigation.
- His farm sits above the Ogallala Aquifer and declining groundwater has made crop yields unpredictable and business planning difficult.
Global Study Shows Widespread Aquifer Decline
- A 2024 study compiled monitoring-well data from ~1,700 aquifers covering ~3/4 of land tapped for groundwater and found about one-third losing water.
- Declines averaged >4 inches per year, with a third of those losing >20 inches annually, concentrated in dry, cultivated regions.
Depletion Triggers Subsidence And Saltwater Intrusion
- Aquifer depletion causes drinking-water loss, wetland habitat loss, land subsidence, and reduced recharge potential.
- Coastal aquifers can experience saltwater intrusion when levels fall, contaminating freshwater supplies.