REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT Improving Groundwater Security in the United States

Summary

This report by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) addresses the critical challenge of groundwater depletion and quality degradation in the U.S., which supplies drinking water for half the population and sees 70% of its use in irrigation. It highlights that much groundwater is fossil water, recharged over 10,000 years ago, and is being depleted at alarming rates, especially in the western U.S. PCAST recommends a national effort to improve groundwater understanding and management, including establishing an Interagency Working Group to coordinate data collection, develop modeling tools, and incentivize sustainable practices. Key proposals include enhancing data collection from over 850,000 well records, launching research programs for water quality and advanced recharge technologies like Managed Aquifer Recharge, and creating a competitive grants program to support science-based planning and restoration, drawing upon existing support from laws like the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

Key Facts

Source Document

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