The Ogallala Aquifer was formed more than 25,000 years ago, but it recharges at a very low rate. For years, irrigators in Kansas have drained more from the aquifer than rainfall can replace.

“The way to think of the deep aquifer is it’s like it has a lid on it,” Abrams said. “And so if you pour water on top of the lid, it’s not going to go through that lid and reach the aquifer.