Does anyone here keep track of their water table?

[1930]

My water table has dropped approx 20 feet since the last time I measured ( 3-4 weeks ago )

Does anyone here have any real world knowledge of having this happen and can possibly explain that?

I was told by the original drillers that a water table typically only drops a few inches at the most if it does drop.

 

[chim]

Absolutely guessing - might there soon be news reports of a huge sinkhole opening up somewhere near you?

 

[RickB]

I would measure a couple more times before you get too excited. What are you measuring? The static water level in a well?

 

[RalphVa]

Yours must be shallow. We're up about 100 ft above the creek. Think water table is just below the creek's lowest level. Long way down the skinny 6 inch well hole to keep track of it without some preinstalled level indicator.

Ralph

 

[3Ts]

When I lived in Florida, the water table fluctuated by feet not inches. If we dug a hole for a fence post it would fill with water, but during a drought it would stay dry. We dug a pond about 9 feet deep and it filled with water, it's level would change based on rainfall (no watershed runoff, only seepage thru the soil) by several feet. We also had a deep well drilled, it turned out to be an artesian well, so water level was never an issue.

Here in Texas, we bought a place with a dug well. It's on the high point of the property so no runoff into it. In summer it's bottom is dry and 19' down. With all the spring rains, it fills up and I measured the water at 8' down.

Obviously, if you're using the water (i.e. pumping it) it will fluctuate. It will take some time to recharge the well.

So, If you're concerned, I'd keep a record of the weather and the water table level over a period of time and see if there is a relationship.

 

[BrokenTrack]

When I was going to drill my well, an old duffer stopped by and asked me if I wanted it Water-Witched. I said sure, even though I had already had it done by me, and my father. Since he hit on the same spot as me and my father, I thought that would be a good spot to drill. But before he left, he asked me if I wanted to see how deep the water was down. I said sure...

So he dug out this rod and that, dipped and walked, twisted and talked, and finally put his hand on my shoulder and said, "get a backhoe son, it is 17 feet down."

It would have been a heck of a backhoe because the well ended up being 290 feet deep.

BUT the next morning, I went out and put a block of wood on a string and dropped it down into the well.

17 feet down!

We hit ledge at 17 feet, and here in Maine, the water table is typically at the ledge-level. I have measured a few times, but it always stays at that level.

But my father (517 feet away), his well is at 55 feet and it runs out of the top of his well all the time. My brother, he is a few miles away, but his well does the same thing. Figures I would be the one to drill to hades for water, but the thing is, once a well is in, its in, so it is a once-type of thing.

 

[i7win7]

Maybe the toilet paper hoarders are actually using it or now they are stockpiling water.

 

[tshep]

If I may go slightly off topic, in Egypt we were shown a small monument, and told it was a nileometer or similar.
Seems they would record the level of the seasonal flood to predict crops and set taxes for the year.

 

[MossRoad]

My water table has dropped approx 20 feet since the last time I measured ( 3-4 weeks ago )

Does anyone here have any real world knowledge of having this happen and can possibly explain that?

I was told by the original drillers that a water table typically only drops a few inches at the most if it does drop.

First, how often have you checked your water level, and do you have an accurate record or benchmark to go by to know that this is a problem or concern?

If so, is there any construction going on in your area? Around here, the water table is fairly high. It's quite common for construction companies to sink many shallow wells around the perimeter of a construction site and pump out the ground water down to a level where they can place footings. Once they place the footings, they shut off the wells and the water table returns. They'll sometimes pump 20' down, and it affects the water table for anyone downstream of the underground aquifer's natural flow.

Also, housing developments with man-made lakes can affect the local water table.

Just a few things to look for in your area.

 

[oosik]

The trouble is - 1930 - what happens here with my well in NE WA state has no bearing with what you are experiencing. Check with surrounding neighbors and see what they are experiencing.

Do as RickB suggests. Measure a couple more times before you panic.

Then - if it still shows a substantial drop - check with your neighbors.

If it's possible - turn your well OFF for 24 hours. Then measure the water level. THAT will be your static water level.