Water-saving　practices　(WSPs)　have　been　recognized　as　an　effective　measure　for　reducing　agricultural　water　use　and　alleviating　regional　water　shortages　in　arid　irrigation　districts.　However,　WSPs　have　also　reduced　groundwater　recharge,　thereby　causing　the　depth　to　groundwater　table　(DGT)　to　increase.　Therefore,　characterizing　the　impact　of　WSPs　on　the　spatiotemporal　variability　in　the　DGT　is　of　paramount　importance　for　protecting　limited　groundwater　resources.　Based　on　monthly　DGT　observation　data　collected　from　1990　to　2015　at　206　observation　wells　in　the　Hetao　Irrigation　District　(HID),　located　in　Northwest　China　with　an　arid　climate,　the　spatiotemporal　variations　in　DGT　before　and　after　the　application　of　WSPs　were　analyzed　using　the　empirical　orthogonal　function　(EOF)　method,　and　the　major　driving　factors　of　the　spatiotemporal　DGT　changes　were　also　identified　using　comprehensive　approaches.　The　EOF　method　revealed　four　major　spatiotemporal　DGT　patterns　both　before　and　after　WSPs　were　applied;　these　patterns　explained　71.39%　and　73.99%　of　the　total　variability　in　the　HID　before　and　after　WSPs　application,　respectively.　In　addition,　the　main　controlling　factors　affecting　the　DGT　dynamics　were　different　before　and　after　WSPs　were　applied.　In　terms　of　the　associations　of　the　DGT　with　the　impacting　factors,　the　meteorological　factors　had　the　strongest　impact　on　the　DGT　changes　on　the　long-term　scale　of　64　months;　however,　irrigation　played　a　leading　role　at　the　seasonal　and　semiannual　scales,　especially　after　WSPs　application.　The　soil　texture　significantly　impacted　the　spatial　DGT　patterns,　particularly　at　depths　above　150　cm.　This　study　provides　a　scientific　basis　for　the　rational　development　of　local　groundwater　resources　and　the　scientific　management　of　water-saving　irrigation　measures.