Rusk County Groundwater Conservation District

Groundwater is and will continue to be a major source of water for Texans. However, in many parts of the state more groundwater is being used than is being replenished through natural means. If this practice continues, Texas water costs will rise, land could subside, water quality could decline and people in some areas could run out of water

Although the amount varies from year to year because of rain and drought conditions, Texans use about 16.5 million acre-feet of water annually. (One acre-foot is enough water to cover 1 acre of land to a depth of 1 foot or 325,851 gallons.) The water we use comes from two main sources; groundwater and surface water. About 60% of the water used in Texas comes from groundwater. The remaining 40% is obtained from ponds, lakes, and rivers known as surface water.

Groundwater in Texas comes from 32 aquifers located under the state. Nine of these aquifers provide about 97% of our groundwater. In Rusk County we have two aquifers providing us with groundwater. The Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer is a major aquifer and the Queen City aquifer is a minor aquifer. (See “What is an Aquifer” under FAQ) Both of these aquifers are naturally recharged or replenished by rainfall. The Rusk County Groundwater Conservation District has adopted a policy to manage these aquifers on a sustainable basis. This will allow responsible use of the groundwater for us, for our children, and for future growth of our community.

The graphic below shows the water sources and uses in Texas. As Texas continues to grow, it is anticipated that there will be a shift from agricultural use to municipal and industrial use. By the 2040’s the Texas Water Development Board projects that more water will be used by cities and industry than by agriculture.

Source: “Questions about Groundwater Conservation Districts in Texas” Texas cooperative Extension – A&M University.