With dry times ahead, many are looking to drill their own bores.

Tens of thousands of licences to drill stock and domestic groundwater bores have been awarded in recent years.

An increasing number of city dwellers in Australia are using a garden bore to water their gardens, while regional and rural towns continue to rely on groundwater, the combined effect of which is concerning to some experts.

Groundwater expert Craig Simmons from Flinders University says it is similar to managing a bank account.

“The earning side comes from how much rainfall recharges the aquifer and over what timeframe,” he told the ABC.

“The spending part of that equation comes from how much water is coming out from bores for drinking, domestic use, agriculture, industries, mining and the environment.

“Often we don't have a very clear sense of all those inputs and outputs.”

Professor Simmons is concerned Australia may be taking groundwater for granted.

“We think it's an infinite resource for the taking, but it's precious like surface water,” he said.

“It's all water. We have to keep an eye on the whole lot, and it has to be managed as one resource.

“Groundwater is going to be hammered increasingly in the future.”