Droughts can be severe or mild. In one such case of an extreme drought known as the Dust Bowl, the land became so hot and dry that the soil turned to dust. Harsh dust storms and lack of water prevented farmers from growing crops.

Agriculture is one of the largest inputs of contaminants and pollutants into natural water sources. Between the waste generated by livestock and the pesticides involved with growing crops, a lot of harmful chemical and bacteria find their way from farms into rivers and streams.

When there are too many people in a region and not enough water to sustain their water usage, water shortages occur. In these instances, it's important to adjust and begin to use the water more sustainably across all of the water divisions.