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Abundant quantities of groundwater are available for domestic, irrigation, and industrial uses from depths of a few feet to below 700 feet; most wells are less than 100 feet deep. A few wells obtain shallow, perched water from gravel or alluvial deposits. These zones often will not yield sufficient water for an adequate domestic supply during periods of low rainfall, which is common in late summer and fall. In general, the chemical quality of the water is good, but water from some aquifers contains objectionable amounts of iron and manganese. Water from alluvium and limestone is generally hard to very hard, with moderate to high levels of dissolved solids. Water from the unconsolidated sand or gravel and nonalluvium aquifers is considered soft and slightly acidic, with low dissolved solids. In some areas, percolation of surface water and fluids from domestic sewage-disposal systems, and other sources of domestic or industrial pollution, may have contaminated the aquifer. In a few wells, harmful amounts of nitrate have been detected. Groundwater sometimes contains naturally occurring iron in objectionable amounts from the deeper zones. In some formations with slightly acidic groundwater, a chemical reaction between the acidic groundwater and steel well casing and pump equipment will produce a high iron content in the water. |
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