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April 16, 2014

Well drilling booms in drought-stricken Calif.

  • In some counties, requests for permits to dig new wells have soared, more than doubling over this time last year.
    • By SCOTT SMITH
    Associated Press

    CHOWCHILLA, Calif. — The scarcity of irrigation water in drought-stricken California has created such a demand for well drilling services that Central Valley farmer Bob Smittcamp is taking matters into his own hands.

    He's buying a drilling rig for $1 million to make certain he has enough water this summer for thousands of acres of fruit and vegetable crops.


     
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