The water crisis in the Texas panhandle

It's not just the panhandle, of course — the Ogallala Aquifer extends across multiple states (including Colorado).  But, in a classic example of the Tragedy of the Commons, Texas has not had any restrictions on individual land owners pumping out however much water they want to pump out (or sell).

(I'll also note the cattle trough below which would probably lose less water if it were canopied or otherwise covered, and the first photo in the story showing a nicely watered lawn around Mr Spinharne's flag pole.)

Oh, well — I don't have the answers, except that I'm sure it will come down to less government regulation and letting the free market make it all better for everyone.

Reshared post from +Les Jenkins

More on Texas' pending water crisis.