1The region's agricultural economy depends almost entirely on water drawn from a vast underground aquifer.
2Has the aquifer been depleted by decades of intensive irrigation, or does it still hold substantial reserves?
3Contamination from industrial chemicals did not reach the aquifer, thanks to the impermeable clay layer above it.
4Consider how over-extraction of the aquifer might affect the long-term viability of farming in this area.
5There is an urgent need to monitor the aquifer's recharge rate, given the unprecedented drought conditions.