News in Brief Earth

U.S. wells are pumping up groundwater from increasing depths

Digging deeper raises costs for getting the freshwater that nearly a third of Americans rely on

California geologist

WATCHING THE WATER  The California Department of Water Resources tracks water levels for the state’s aquifers. Here, an engineering geologist measures the water depth at a well in the central Colusa County in March 2016.

Kelly M. Grow/Calif. Dept of Water Resources

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

Residential, agricultural and industrial wells are being dug deeper and deeper in search of freshwater, according to the first nationwide assessment of U.S.