# Tunnelling outside your property boundaries

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnelling-outside-your-property-boundaries/635955>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 27, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnelling-outside-your-property-boundaries/635955 "2012-09-27T01:51:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnelling-outside-your-property-boundaries/635955/21 "2012-09-28T06:21:51Z")

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> [@Senegoid](#):
>
> In any modern city, property owners almost certainly never own mineral rights under their land. That would include rights to water (which is typically classified as a mineral, if I’m not mistaken). But water flows around underground, and that aquifer under your land is the same aquifer that’s under everyone else’s house. You can’t just drill your own well into that and help yourself to all you want.

Apparently, you can. I do, and so do all of my neighbors. And since all wells are registered with the state, it’s no secret.

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**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tunnelling-outside-your-property-boundaries/635955/22 "2012-09-28T06:39:12Z")

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> [@Senegoid](#):
>
> But water flows around underground, and that aquifer under your land is the same aquifer that’s under everyone else’s house. You can’t just drill your own well into that and help yourself to all you want.

Cite? There sure are a hell of a lot of folks who dig wells and help themselves to all they want. I haven’t found anything that mentions restrictions against digging wells, in fact well users seem to be exempt from water use limitations.

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