Groundwater in Bailey County Comes from the Ogallala Aquifer

Almost all water in Bailey County — for farms, homes, and the city of Muleshoe — comes from the Ogallala Aquifer. This underground water source runs beneath 49 Texas counties. It is the largest aquifer in the United States. It is why the Panhandle can support large farms with irrigation. The Texas Water Development Board says pumping exceeds natural refill across much of the aquifer, so water levels have dropped over the decades.

The High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 (HPWD) covers Bailey County and controls well drilling here. If you plan to drill a well that pumps 17.5 gallons per minute or more, you must get a permit from HPWD before you start. The district also sets spacing rules. New wells must stay a minimum distance from other wells and from property lines. Smaller home wells that pump less than 17.5 gallons per minute do not need a permit. You can still register them voluntarily at no cost, which gives your well site a minimum 100-yard buffer from any future permitted well drilled nearby.

Drought can lower well water availability. Water levels are already falling in parts of the Ogallala. If you are buying rural land in Bailey County, ask about the well's depth, pump size, and recent water-level readings before you close. Contact HPWD in Lubbock for permit forms and well records.