[TaraP]

Not sure.. Groundwater Depletion Rate Accelerating Worldwide ScienceDaily (Sep. 23, 2010) — In recent decades, the rate at which humans worldwide are pumping dry the vast underground stores of water that billions depend on has more than doubled, say scientists who have conducted an unusual, global assessment of groundwater use.

[UCANSEE2]

In recent decades, the rate at which humans worldwide are pumping dry the vast underground stores of water that billions depend on has more than doubled

Well, we have been pumping a lot. But where's it gonna go? It can't leave the Earth without a spaceship. Most all of it returns to the ground. Some is broken up in to hydrogen and oxygen and the hydrogen escapes into space while much of the oxygen is turned into ozone. But the Earth is constantly pelted with ICE from space (and dirt/rocks). The balance goes in favor of more water and dirt added to the Earth each day. The Earth is, and has always been, growing in size. As more material is added to the 'outside', the inside 'expands'. This is what causes the so called 'continental drift'.

[sinanju]

I actually recently read WATER FOLLIES: Groundwater Pumping And The Fate Of America’s Fresh Waters.

It painted an alarming picture and amazingly enough, did NOT demand a statist solution.