[cykotic]

It’s odd to me that you don’t like the phrasing “America is using…” and want it to read “The Southwest portion of America…”. Millions of people live in the Southwest and it is part of America.

It’s not a problem for just the Southwest. It’s a problem for the whole country. Massive amounts of food derive from the use of groundwater in the U.S. and we can’t just shift production easily. This would cause huge disruptions in the food supply and for the economy. It requires federal solutions. It’s a problem for America.

[linuxftw]

We exports huge amounts of grain. The groundwater we're depleting isn't for our own use, it's to feed other countries.

I don't see why this requires a federal solution. Those states own/control their own water. If they want to use it all up, that's their problem. It's all going to get used up eventually.

[PaulDavisThe1st]

The states do not control their own water, because rivers (and aquifers) cross state boundaries.

The states have formed various compacts, under the supervision of the federal government, the detail how water will be shared among them. These cover, for example, the Colorado, Rio Grande and Pecos rivers.

And if Kansas drains the Oglalla aquifer, that severely screws the other 4 or 5 states that draw from it.

[cykotic]

We exports huge amounts of grain. The groundwater we're depleting isn't for our own use, it's to feed other countries.

Which is why it is a federal issue since the federal government controls interstate trade. Thus it’s accurate to say that America is depleting its aquifers. Which is the point of my response to you.

That you think states control their own water suggests you don’t understand the issue. For instance, one state can’t just put a dam on river and declare all of the water theirs and not allow distribution of it to other states.