Water Supply
Hutchinson County Draws Water from the Ogallala Aquifer
Most water in Hutchinson County comes from the Ogallala Aquifer. This underground water source is shared across the Panhandle — and it is being used faster than it refills.
Hutchinson County is in Groundwater Management Area 1, called GMA 1. GMA 1 covers 18 Panhandle counties. They all share the same underground water system, mostly the Ogallala Aquifer. The North Plains Groundwater Conservation District is one of the groups that oversees water use in this region.
If you plan to drill a water well, you likely need a permit first. You get that permit from your local groundwater conservation district — not the state.
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) keeps track of water levels in the Ogallala. It publishes planning data for each county. Water levels across much of the Panhandle have dropped a lot over the years. Decades of irrigation and city use have pulled more water out than rain puts back in.
If you are buying rural land and plan to use a private well, ask about current well depths and water levels in that area. The TWDB website has a well database you can search by county. Check the official source before you make any decisions.
Source to confirm: TWDB — Groundwater Management Area 1