266 CONSERVATION OF GROUND WATER 



interests of best utilization of the ground-water resources, and 

 the administrative officials have been qualified technical men 

 who know well the importance of w r ater to their states. On 

 the basis of sound technical data, they have done much to 

 encourage sound development and to modify the pattern of 

 development in the interest of greater utilization, restricting 

 development only where studies show no other solution. 

 However, in some areas restrictions have put a temporary 

 brake on the rate of development until scientific studies can 

 show whether there is ground water still unappropriated. 



Strong arguments have been advanced against ground-water 

 legislation, on the principle that it would hamper develop- 

 ment and, since there are still large undeveloped ground-water 

 resources in many parts of the country, that the legislation 

 would result in economic loss. It is undeniable that ground- 

 water development can be held to a level far below the po- 

 tentialities of a region by rigid protection of established rights. 

 Protection of rights to spring or to stream flow in some areas 

 can be achieved only by prohibition of development of ground 

 water. And regulations seeking to stabilize water levels at any 

 particular position will generally prevent full utilization of 

 ground-water reservoirs. 



On the other hand, the proponents of ground-water legisla- 

 tion foresee great economic loss if excessive pumping is per- 

 mitted to continue until ground-water reservoirs are emptied 

 or contaminated by saline waters. For the country as a whole, 

 intelligent water-resource development cannot be made ex- 

 cept within a framework of law that will permit achieving the 

 desired objective and prevent activities that would defeat the 

 purpose of the development. As already mentioned, the legis- 

 lation to date has generally succeeded in providing a means of 

 controlling and yet not restricting development except in areas 

 where pumping is approaching the "safe yield." 



In many places the utilization of surface water and ground 

 water has developed in a happenstance pattern that is far from 

 the most effective use of the available resources, and the estab- 

 lished water rights serve only to perpetuate this inefficiency. 



