BTW, my next project is to research to cost to put in a well before California regulates ground water. I pay more for a month of water than I do for a month of electricity. With this 'drought', I will soon be unable to buy the water I want to use at any price from the utility.
I'm pretty sure you don't own the groundwater rights if you live in a standard City subdivision. And the well permitting process is arduous in places where they are allowed. I would be tempted if I could. The lawn is already gone. Trying to save 26 year-old trees is going to be a challenge. The proposed fines for watering are just too rich for the local government water agency to pass up.
Fortunately, I do own the ground water rights. We live in a rural part of a rural county on acreage; El Dorado County, in California. Wells are easy enough to get a permit for. To get a well installed will cost me around $7,000 to $8,000 complete. It will take about 7 years to break even on the cost. I plan to run the pump on it's own solar panels and install a cistern to store water instead of an on-demand pumping scheme.
The funny thing is; the water district that serves our area made us sign an agreement that we would not go and install a well as it would be too expensive to put in the water lines unless everybody out our way was on their system. When I called them to ask about putting in a well and how that would affect the agreement when they put in the water for our area, they were more than happy to cut us loose if that was our choice.
The reason is; they sell a water meter for hook-up to their system for about $20,000 for a 3/4" water line and about $40,000 for a 1" line to a residence. So, I said, I'll be getting back $40,000 when I give up my 1" meter. No, they say, you do not. And if I ever want to go back on their system, it'll be another $40,000 for a new 1" meter connection fee. In the meantime, just to have the meter and not use a drop of water is a flat $50 a month.
I paid $40,000 for the meter, I pay a flat $50 a month plus some amount for every 100 cu ft. of water, and if I want off their system, I give up the meter and don't get paid back what I bought it for, they sell it to someone else for $40,000 and if I ever want back on, it's another $40,000 from me to do so.
I should have put in a well years ago! I can drive in any direction from my house within a mile and see natural springs bubbling water to the surface, so I know there's water available.
California is a BIG state. Not everywhere is the desert you see on the evening news. May was 400% of a normal rainfall for the month is year in my area. We got lots of water, but the state treats everyone the same; from the deserts to the redwood forests. From the high alpine Sierra mountains to the fog enshrouded coast. It's the big ag that wants all the water, and it's the state's citizens who are made to pay the price. Big ag doesn't spend a dime on dams, aquaducts, etc. That's from taxes to residence.
Grrr......