Water Well Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/668983
instituted to mitigate these impacts are driving up costs for new wells and also limiting opportunities for other end users. Chris Preston: Water scarcity and con- tamination are looming concerns around the world. It's crucial we strategize the most efficient ways to preserve and pro- tect our groundwater. WWJ: The 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of the Census stated metered wells increased 24% between 2008 and 2013. Are you continuing to see a growth in me- tered wells? Why do think that is? Downey: There's still meters because there has to be some way of quantifying what they're actually using besides the consumptive use. But I don't see the growth that there was from 2008 to 2013. Cannon: Yes, the metering of wells will continue to grow. This is the only way to keep track of the impacts to the aquifer, and it's a good indicator of good stewardship of the resources. WWJ: How has the political land- scape affected irrigation equip- ment manufacturers or end users? Mackin: There are more people at the table determining where a well can go and what a well can produce. There's probably an added benefit because they're actually looking at the science and the impact of each well. But we'll be hurt financially if it takes a long time to get permits; permits aren't allowed; or if they aren't putting in new wells, buying new pumps, or putting in new pivots. For it to work right, you need groundwater professionals in that deci- sion-making process. That's paramount, and in some places, that's not the case. Downey: Farmers have learned to adapt to whatever their local regulations may be. I think everyone is under the realization the water supply is pretty tight. But energy costs, oil prices, and government subsidies have all affected farmers' bottom lines. Cannon: Our customers have to deal with restrictions on use in regard to off- site discharges of the irrigation water used, including sub-surface migration of differing quality water to watersheds. For instance, in one area withdrawals are banned from some production zones to prevent high sulfate content water from being discharged onto the crops and then migrating underground to a tributary of one of the bays. This is all possible through our water management districts spending a lot of money to study our water resources and the causes and effects of the usages. They now have decades of information and are making real strides to maintain our water resources. WWJ: With restrictions on drilling irrigation wells in parts of the country, some contractors have diversified their offerings from the irrigation segment. Has this been the case for you? If so, how have you diversified? Downey: Pretty much everywhere we work there's no new development. We felt there was a need for new replace- ment wells, and most of our work is re- placing irrigation wells drilled 40 years ago. We think we're doing a better job making them more efficient and helping those who have declining water levels deal with that part of it. IRRIGATION from page 15 waterwelljournal.com 16 May 2016 WWJ