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Static Water Level
<br />Based on a review of 9,947 records from the database of the Colorado State Engineer's Office, well drillers in
<br />the Upper Arkansas Area have reported the depth of static (non - pumping) water levels at depths ranging from 1
<br />foot to 900 feet below land surface, with an average static water level of about 67 feet below land surface.
<br />The following table summarizes by county the number of records; and the minimum, average, and maximum
<br />reported well yield, well depth, and static water level. Data from all types of wells (domestic, household,
<br />irrigation, public supply, and other uses) are included in this summary.
<br />Summary of well data from State Engineer's database
<br />Chaffee
<br />County
<br />Custer
<br />County
<br />Fremont
<br />County
<br />Lake
<br />County
<br />Upper
<br />Arkansas
<br />Area
<br />Well Dept
<br />feet below surface
<br />Number of records
<br />3,875
<br />2,697
<br />3,954
<br />996
<br />11,522
<br />Minimum value
<br />5
<br />3
<br />2
<br />3
<br />2
<br />Average value
<br />115
<br />205
<br />190
<br />116
<br />162
<br />Maximum value
<br />900
<br />1750
<br />3000
<br />655
<br />3000
<br />Water Level feet below surface
<br />Number of records
<br />3,338
<br />2,407
<br />3,303
<br />899
<br />9,947
<br />Minimum value
<br />1
<br />1
<br />1
<br />1
<br />1
<br />Average value
<br />65
<br />65
<br />70
<br />71
<br />67
<br />Maximum value
<br />710
<br />483
<br />900
<br />587
<br />900
<br />Well Yield (gallon er minute
<br />Number of records
<br />3,834
<br />2,657
<br />3,576
<br />958
<br />11,025
<br />Minimum value
<br />0.01
<br />0.09
<br />0.01
<br />0.33
<br />0.01
<br />Average value
<br />18
<br />17
<br />17
<br />16
<br />17
<br />Maximum value
<br />1,500
<br />1,203
<br />4,620
<br />815
<br />4,620
<br />Is It Safe to Drink?
<br />Well users often worry about the quality of their water. Some people think of mountain water as the purest on
<br />earth, while others argue the effects of high levels of bacteria and other contaminants. One thing is known; the
<br />very nature of water movement into sand and gravel aquifers and fractured bedrock aquifers makes them
<br />vulnerable to contamination.
<br />Where the soils are thicker, biologic, chemical, and physical processes in the soil may better filter contaminants.
<br />By contrast where there is little soil or overburden, contaminants may receive little filtering before they enter the
<br />ground -water system. As water moves through the pores or fractures in an aquifer, it may pick up various
<br />metals, minerals, dissolved nutrients, and other chemicals. At certain levels, some of these substances can pose
<br />health risks. Where soils are thin, potential contaminants from septic systems, fertilizers, animal waste, and de-
<br />icing salts are less likely to be filtered out before they reach ground water.
<br />City residents typically rely on water- treatment plants to test and treat drinking water, and public sewage
<br />treatment facilities to treat waste. Rural dwellers, on the other hand, typically rely on private wells and
<br />individual septic systems. In Colorado, the State Division of Water Resources retains well records. Typically,
<br />county health departments issue permits, inspect construction, and retain septic system records. This means that
<br />rural residents are responsible for testing and treating their water supplies and periodically inspecting and
<br />maintaining their own septic systems.
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