In the Austin American Statesman there is an editorial, Groundwater ruling potentially unleashes geyser of future cases ,that talks about the ruling by the Supreme Court on property rights and groundwater, and the effects it has on the conservation and regulation of aquifers. The court ruled that the property owners own the groundwater beneath their land just like they own the gas and oil underneath their land. The problem with that ruling is the regulations limiting on how much groundwater can be pump by the property owner, and how that will be consider unconstitutional because that is their property and the owner can do what they want with it, and limiting how much water they can pump interferes with their rights. Putting a limitation on the use of groundwater puts the districts regulators in a dilemma because of the fear of getting sued and having to pay thousands of dollars for compensation. However, with the drought that Texas has been facing, the limitation of the groundwater is essential to the other Texans who use and rely on the same water supply. The courts agree that the state should be able to regulate the production of groundwater, however, the court have the question on whether it would be reasonable or unreasonable of government taking property.
I agree with the courts on the state being able to regulate how much groundwater the property owner should own. The use of groundwater affects every other Texan that relies on the water supply and it affects Texas environment. If the state does not regulate the use of ground water then the rest of the people residing in Texas will suffer, and Texas would go into a drought. The Legislature should come up with something to protect everyone not just the property owners, because like mention in the article 60 percent of Texas will be affected and the damages will be greater. Water is very essential to everyone's well-being, so why not act fast on finding solutions that would in the end benefit everyone.
