Groundwater wells are getting drier across Texas
For the past 75 years, thousands of groundwater wells in Texas have seen a drop in their water levels. Those in the Ogallala Aquifer, the state’s largest, which sits below the Panhandle and parts of West Texas, have been among the hardest hit. These maps show the magnitude of the trends over time.
Water levels are now dropping in most areas of this aquifer.
Water level trends over time
Rising
Little change
Falling
Major aquifers
1950 to 1974
1975 to 1999
2000 to 2024
Ogallala
Aquifer
Lubbock
Dallas
El Paso
San Antonio
Houston
Edwards
Aquifer
The southern part of the Ogallala Aquifer saw wetter conditions during this period.
Water level trends over time
Rising
Little change
Falling
Major aquifers
1950 to 1974
Ogallala
Aquifer
Amarillo
Lubbock
Dallas
El Paso
Austin
Houston
San Antonio
Edwards
Aquifer
Laredo
Brownsville
1975 to 1999
The southern part of the Ogallala Aquifer saw wetter conditions during this period.
2000 to 2024
Water levels are now dropping in most areas of
this aquifer.
Water level trends over time
Rising
Little change
Falling
Major aquifers
1950 to 1974
1975 to 1999
2000 to 2024
Ogallala
Aquifer
Water levels are now dropping in most areas of this aquifer.
Amarillo
Lubbock
Dallas
El Paso
Austin
San Antonio
Houston
Edwards
Aquifer
The southern part of the Ogallala Aquifer saw wetter conditions during this period.
Laredo
Brownsville