What does the hydrologist mean by "we must not treat it as free"?

For more than a century, the windpump has been a familiar sight on the farms of the Karoo. Its tall steel frame and turning blades draw water from deep underground and fill the troughs where sheep and goats drink. Farmers value it because it needs no fuel and no electricity, and a well-maintained pump can work for decades with only occasional repairs. In recent years, however, some farmers have begun to worry. Long periods without rain mean that boreholes are refilled slowly, while more water is being taken out than before. A hydrologist who studies the region explains that groundwater is not an endless supply. "A windpump works for free," she says, "but the water it lifts was stored over thousands of years, so we must not treat it as free." Several farming communities have therefore started to record the water level in their boreholes every month, so that they can slow down their use before the supply runs low.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. The water took a very long time to accumulate and using it has a cost

  1. Step 1: She says the water was stored over thousands of years, so it should not be used as if it cost nothing.
Answer
The water took a very long time to accumulate and using it has a cost.
Why not the others: The farmers should start paying for the water they pump: she does not suggest a payment. Windpumps are expensive to maintain: the cost she means is the loss of stored water, not repair costs. The government owns the groundwater: ownership is not discussed.

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