Water, so basic to all life, yet it is easy to take for granted as long as the tap in the kitchen sink works. With a warming climate, concerns are growing about the sustainability and security of our water supplies. Most of our water originates from surface (rivers or streams) and groundwater (from wells).

Across the country, over 80% of water used is for some type of agricultural purposes. The remaining 20% is for industrial, municipal and residential use. Under Oregon law, all water belongs to the public.

With some exceptions, cities, irrigators, businesses and other water users must obtain a permit or license from the Water Resources Department to use water from any source — whether it is underground, or from lakes or streams, according to the Oregon.gov water rights website.

Water law is associated with the development of the West, usually originating in the 1880s or even earlier. The basic principle of “first in time, first in right” has not significantly changed over time. Those who first obtained a water right have priority over later applicants.

In Oregon, most rivers and streams are overallocated, meaning that the water rights given far exceed the availability. In some cases, a senior water right is more valuable than the property it serves. Groundwater is regulated in much the same way, having both senior and junior water rights within a basin.

With a warming climate we are seeing spring runoff and summer low flows happening earlier in the seasons. The Oregon Atlas of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems found that more than a third of all streams and rivers depend on groundwater, and about two-thirds of all lakes and ponds do as well.

Groundwater issues are becoming more prevalent in Oregon. Recent coverage by Oregon Public Broadcasting has identified declining groundwater issues in the Harney Basin, Malheur County, and Klamath Falls area.

In Central Oregon, controversy over a new resort development proposal that could pump over a million gallons of groundwater a day to service about 1,000 new luxury homes and a manmade lake has pitted local residents and tribes against more high-end development, with water being a key concern. We have our own issues in the Lower Umatilla Basin with lowering groundwater levels and nitrate pollution.

Here locally, the CTUIR recently released preliminary findings from a multi-year study with the US Geological Survey about how area groundwater is — or rather is not — being replenished. The study used data from determining the age of groundwater from multiple wells tapping basalt aquifers throughout the Umatilla Basin, finding that water from most sites sampled is thousands of years old.

The study indicates that dense basalt rock that is almost impermeable contributes to poor natural groundwater recharge rates. The combination of lower summer streamflows and very slow groundwater recharge rates should influence water policies throughout the basin. This is a wake-up call for all of us dependent on our wells. Similar study efforts are happening in the Walla Walla Basin.

The Oregon Water Resources Department is proposing updating the 1955 Groundwater Act. The original law requires the state to maintain stable levels of groundwater but does not define what stable is. Since 1955, permits for wells in many areas have been issued throughout Oregon’s 20 groundwater basins without really knowing about the stability or recharge rate.

OWRD groundwater manager Justin Iverson recently stated, “If permitting rules don’t change, up to 50,000 Oregon wells that are 50 feet below the water table or less could go dry, costing hundreds of millions of dollars to replace.”

The new rules would define stability as maintaining spring water levels year after year. The water level after winter recharge and before summer irrigation should return to about the level it was the year before.

More optimistically, the last Oregon legislative session passed the Bipartisan Drought and Water Security Package (House Bill 2010), which includes new authority and resources for several state agencies to assess and monitor water resources. This also gave OWRD authority to require measurement and reporting of water use.

In addition, years ago, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife established minimum streamflows for fish and aquatic life. Irrigation efficiencies, regenerative agriculture, xeriscaping and other conservation efforts are increasingly effective and will contribute to more secure water resources for communities and the natural environment.

The city of Pendleton is doing some remarkable work to stabilize the water table, improve wastewater treatment and conserve water while moving aggressively into renewable energy sources.

Water is the giver of life — it is necessary to sustain all life, communities and cultures. Whether your water comes from a well or stream, it cannot be taken for granted. Competition for water will only increase as populations expand and demands increase.

By understanding where our water comes from and how the climate and human activities impact this precious resource, we can better set policies and manage this essence of life more sustainably. By taking care of our water, we will be taking care of ourselves and the environment that sustains us.