DesertDrifter -- yep -- using groundwater for household use is one thing; even with drought, that level of usage, by itself, could be sustained for quite a while -- but pillaging groundwater for high water demand agriculture (and for other high water demand activities such as fracking) is, finally, however economically rewarding, just stupid -- one way or another, that sort of pillaging of the groundwater will ultimately cease, either by sensible regulation or because the aquifers just give out; question is whether any other uses will remain possible once it does