DEEP WELLS, SHALLOW WATERS?

According to published reports, a new research study has found that deep water wells may not be a solution for increased ground water demands on water utilities.* The study concluded that, on average, deep wells encountered brackish ground water at about the 1,800 foot level. In eastern United States, the brackish water is found at about the 1,000 foot level, suggesting deep wells may not be a solution for fresh water demand in that region. Extrapolation from their findings for the United States, the researcher indicated that fresh ground water in the world may not be as available as once thought.

Limitations on deep wells as a long term source of water supply should be no surprise. In the period 1950-1980 or so, the region surrounding Chicago experienced substantial population and housing growth, with corresponding increasing ground water demand. Initially, shallow wells were used by water utilities, as cost effective. However, water from shallow wells generally contains high iron content, making for complaints from customers. Further, with density growth shallow wells increasingly were not a solution for higher demand. More and more water utilities then switched to deep wheels as a source of supply.

However, deep wells in the area soon displayed limitations. Salt water was detected at about the 1,800 foot level, so generally the wells had to be kept to 1,500 feet. While deep wells did not have an iron issue, they did have a radium and related constituent issue. Treatment for such contaminants can be costly and difficult. Further, deep wells could not provide needed supply as demand continued to increase. Finally, Lake Michigan water replaced wells as the source of supply for much of the area, through a system of agencies and pipelines.

Not every area of the united States, or of the world for that matter, has the good fortune of having Lake Michigan as a neighbor. They still have the task of trying to solve source of supply issues particularly if deep wells are not a long term solution.

_____________________________________

*"Study: US Potable Groundwater Supply
Faces New Risks", Opflow, January
2019, p.4. See also Journal AWWA,
January 2019, p.88

© Daniel J. Kucera