|
<br />
<br />~ ,.. ,
<br />-., " I
<br />....."-'4....
<br />
<br />A PRIMER ON GROUND WATER
<br />
<br />Helene L. Baldwin and C. L. .\fcGuinnen
<br />
<br />THE \rATER SEEKERS
<br />
<br />~tost of us don't have to look for waler, \\'c
<br />gr{'w up either in big cilies where there was a
<br />public water ~lIppl\", or in ..mall town... or on fann;;
<br />where Iht' water Clnle from wdb. But there are
<br /><;onH:' Twople to "hulll flllding- a Tlt'W .;.upply of
<br />water i~ ,-itally important.
<br />Take John Jom's, for in.,tancc. He i, 011 the
<br />town council of BrO\l/l-,,-ille. and ha.. ju..t boug-llI
<br />;! farm a little di"lan('c from town, ill Ihe -,-lllll'
<br />plea.sant ,.lllty "her(" the town is ,ituated. Tlwfl'
<br />is onh' 0111' ..mall ;;tream ill Ihe ,'alley, and it !low<;
<br />.111 tlH' w.l~ acro~.. thl' ,'alky only aht'r hea,y railb
<br />I fig, I),
<br />The town Ilerd.. more water for its municipal
<br />"y..telll. The pre:-.cllt supply ,ome.. fwm widd~
<br />"p.\Ced ,\dk SOllU' of the enuncilmell want to
<br />("on'uh a dowser, or \\att'r "itch. ..\.. you Tllay
<br />know, thrdo"..crd,lim!i that h(' can [neatt' undl'r-
<br />g-round ,',ltrr by tht' u-.c of a magic forked ..tid.
<br />When ht. i, OHr water. Ihe ..tirk will twi..t or bend
<br />downward of ib m," ae("ord. E\O:11 if ~ou try
<br />\I'ith all ~ollr mii.!ht to hold the ..tick upright. it
<br />will ht-nd dO\lnward-if you haH Ihe m.l_lri(" cift
<br />of bt'inc: able to locate \I,lter under thee-round.
<br />.-\t l<-a....1. that'.. \,IUI pe()plt' who helit'\t' in drm!'-
<br />ing '-.1\". Other.- haHn't made up IIlt'ir mind.. on
<br />the suhjt"t. ami still (tlher- don'l ht-lint" in thi..
<br />mac:k, ~rienti"b who ha\'C ..tudied tilt' subjrn
<br />eardulh know that, \\hate\Cf r1~ a dO\\"Cf can
<br />
<br />do. he cannot locate \later rcliabl\', with or with.
<br />out his rod.
<br />Sume twentit'th-celltury walt'r wizards don't
<br />lI..e a forked !'ti( k. but (all tell YOll where to dig
<br />or drill for water much more a["curatdy Ihan the
<br />nld-time dow"t,r. They are tht" geolowst.., engi-
<br />net'I', ami other sdentists \,ho ha\'e het"n trained
<br />in hydroloJ:)'. They art" called hydrologists., or
<br />_"Iudents of the ",ienu. of "'ater. TIlt'y can aid not
<br />only in till' ~carch for waler. hut also in iL" dcn"l.
<br />Oplllent oncc th(' ..ouree has 1,('('11 found.
<br />John n"comlTl('nds that tht. to,,-n..people hire a
<br />profc....,ional ("OIL"uhant. but he ..ug~f"',ts that before
<br />th('~ do.;.o they might comuh the L- .S. Geological
<br />Surwy in Smith City. when" Ihe Survey has ..ct
<br />up a loe:il officc 10 man.lgt' thl.' ..tudit":' il is making
<br />in coopnalion \lith Stalt. a~ellrit's. Hydrologists
<br />Ihen' ..hould know sOlllethin~ about ~round water
<br />in the .OUIlt, \\ tll'r(' Bm" n",ill(' L<; locat('d.
<br />Hcm did John happt'n to think of the Survey?
<br />\1:Hl~ people are not acquainh'd with its opera-
<br />tions. and do not realize that _g('ologi..t.. and engi-
<br />nee!"" of Ihe ~ul"\cy arc (on..tantl~ working wilh
<br />Stall' officials all OHT the countl"\, mapping and
<br />ITIt'a"uring water rc';OIlHc.... on and hdow Ihe
<br />l::round. One d.1Y _cnoral yea!"" ago. John had
<br />IIIct a young Illall ,\ ho wa" mC.I..uring- a \\e11 near
<br />John\ rorn1t"r IlOllH'. They fell into con\'Cr<.ation
<br />and John It'amcd that the young man wa.s t'm-
<br />
<br />
|