[rtkwe]

A big issue is returning it to the ground doesn't mean it reenters the aquafer you might be drawing from if you're on a well system. It happens all over the place and especially in California, the aquafers aren't replenished well by ground water (and the extreme pumping causes the aquafer to compress permanently losing water capacity).

[mattmaroon]

But again that’s entirely because of agricultural and industrial use. There’s plenty of water for homes, there’s not plenty of water for homes and mass farming in a desert.

This is the exact line of thought the people who use the water want to encourage. They want you to worry about your water use so you don’t worry about theirs.