Unlike surface water, in Nebraska the groundwater belongs to the people of the state. Now, people own the land above it and over several decades many wells have tapped the Ogallala Aquifer, but the state put a moratorium on new wells over a decade ago. Meters have also been put on groundwater wells.

There is a clear understanding of the need to conserve water in the state and there are many competing stakeholders. Unlike other areas of this massive aquifer (8 states), Nebraska has the good fortune of having a large mass of sand across most of the aquifer allowing rain to percolate through the sediment. The recharge rate is quite good. (The deepest part of the aquifer is in Nebraska and it contributes to 24,000 miles of streams in the state.)

For those who are unaware, precision agriculture is a growing practice that has environmental and economic benefits for producers and their communities. Reddit gets pretty dark, I'm offering this information to those who may be unaware of research and practices already in place to improve farming and ranching. (Using less resources, fertilizer, herbicides/pesticides is a win for all.)

Of all the water that covers the earth, 3% is fresh water. 2% is frozen in glaciers, leaving only 1% available for world to use.

Don't run the water when you brush your teeth.