A lot of growers around the state are crossing their fingers when it comes to their well pumps. The ground water level is so low in some areas that pumps are beginning to pump out less water if not running dry.
Growers Hoping to ‘Get by’ with Well Problems
Tulare County farmer Jerry Silva says managing his wells this year has been a challenge and forced him to change his operations. One pump in particular makes him nervous every day when he goes to look at it, fearing that it could not be pumping at all. The challenge Silva faces now, like many other growers in the state, is out of his control. Pump companies are inundated with wells running dry, and Silva says it’s hard to get any dialogue started. Hopefully his wells can be lowered and won’t require an entire new well to be dug.