In many areas of the world, groundwater provides a key source of irrigation water. There are often few restrictions on groundwater access and use, and formal regulatory control of pumping is limited.1 In the Great Plains of the United States, the water table has declined in the Ogallala aquifer system due to widespread groundwater extraction for irrigation purposes. This marked fall in aquifer levels has prompted concerns about the economic future of the region. However, there is cause for optimism in tackling this problem. Keep Reading...