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#1
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Is anyone here aware of a situation where the level of an inland lake
has dropped due to the installation of a high capacity municipal well? I am trying to find information that will put us at ease here about a well that is likely to draw water from the same source that supplies nearby lakes. Thanks! Tom |
#2
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According to the elemetary illustration on this USGS site, your concern is not
completely unfounded. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwaquifer.html Your lake is most likely an extension of a subterranean aquifer. If the water level in the aquifer is drawn down substantially by the municipal well, the lake level could drop as well. Whether or not this is likely at your particular site would depend on a long series of geologic and hyrdologic variables. If you're really concerned, get together with some like-minded neighbors and hire a hydrological engineer to study your specific situation. It's likely the municipality may have done this already, but almost as likely that the study results could have been "interpreted" in the city's favor. |
#3
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They did that here in Chesapeake, Va several years ago. So far I haven't
heard of any adverse effects. My house is on a well system, so I was more concerned about it. -- Bill Chesapeake, Va "Tom" wrote in message om... Is anyone here aware of a situation where the level of an inland lake has dropped due to the installation of a high capacity municipal well? I am trying to find information that will put us at ease here about a well that is likely to draw water from the same source that supplies nearby lakes. Thanks! Tom |
#4
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Depends on the specifics. Aquifers are often totally independent of lakes.
Is your lake stream or river fed? If it has no incoming river or stream, I think it's technically a pond. "Tom" wrote in message om... Is anyone here aware of a situation where the level of an inland lake has dropped due to the installation of a high capacity municipal well? I am trying to find information that will put us at ease here about a well that is likely to draw water from the same source that supplies nearby lakes. Thanks! Tom |
#5
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Guess it can happen.
"Tom" wrote in message om... Is anyone here aware of a situation where the level of an inland lake has dropped due to the installation of a high capacity municipal well? I am trying to find information that will put us at ease here about a well that is likely to draw water from the same source that supplies nearby lakes. Thanks! Tom |
#6
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![]() "Tom" wrote in message om... Is anyone here aware of a situation where the level of an inland lake has dropped due to the installation of a high capacity municipal well? I am trying to find information that will put us at ease here about a well that is likely to draw water from the same source that supplies nearby lakes. Thanks! Tom This can happen if the lake is a gaining lake (gains water from the aquifer). If this is the case then the lake intersects the water table. Draw down the water table and the lake level drops. I would ask around to those who have wells near the lake and find how far down the water table is in their wells. If the water level in their wells are with in a few feet of the lake level then it is a gaining lake and you could possibly see an effect. If the water level in their wells are dramatically lower then the bottom of the lake then they should not be connected. The thing to do would be to demand a copy of the geologists report for the well/aquifer. The information you are looking for: where are the recharge areas for the aquifer, the conductivity of the aquifer, how large the aquifer is in total area (I.e. it is not a confined or a parched aquifer) and what is the composition of the aquifer (i.e. sandstone, shale or limestone....). I would suspect they have done an impact assessment of the well on the aquifer and subsequently on the lakes and local streams in the watershed. If the total conductivity of the aquifer is too low they would not be able to drill the well. You also want to know what effect the well will have on the water flow direction of the aquifer when the well is pumping at full capacity (not designed capacity but with the pump at full bore). Once you ask for all these things (and they get over the panic that you asked for it) you will know enough to determine the impact. You may also contact your local geology department (college or university) or request assistance from your local department of environmental protection (DEP, DER or what ever they are called in your area). Technically you are a tax payer and they are a government agency so they have to look into the problem if you have a reasonable concern. If you can supply all of the above information they will take you seriously. All of the information will be enough for your local DEP to determine if there will be a problem. Just get to know the geologist that works for the water department and have a nice talk to him. If you are not confrontational, approach him strictly for the education he can supply and he should not have any problem talking to you. If he will not meet with you then request a copy of his report. If they won't give it to you then I would bring up your concerns at the local township meet. Use google and do a little searching and read about aquifers, lakes, conductivity ect. You may also ask for a copy of the ground water flow model plot. It will consist of something that looks like a navigation chart with the depths indicating depth of the water table and arrows showing the direction of water flow in that area. With a little time you can figure out how to read it. But above all and the first step is to talk to their geologist and express your concern and ask him how he knows the lake will not be impacted. Ask him to teach you a little hydrogeology. He should be happy to do so... good luck, mark |
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