SEPA groundwater drought conditions

[springer1]

I knew we had an extended stretch last summer / fall of minimal rain and low creek levels, but I wasn't aware of the draught conditions until I saw this ..... the "groundwater" status is 'emergency' in several SEPA counties.

https://pa.water.usgs.gov/drought/indicators/composite/

Am I misreading this?

 

[Mike]

No. I went deeper into the info on that chart for Chester Co and that county's groundwater has been in less than desirable condition for quite a while. Not surprising for that county. Lancaster Co was a surprise, however.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

It is to me but also isnt.

Lancaster County has been struggling with low water a few years now. However, everywhere you look there is new development. Strip malls, housing etc..... you can't drive a mile anywhere without seeing it. I wish I was exaggerating but it sure seems like it. Lancaster is becoming chester

 

[springer1]

..... and yet builders install showers with 3 & 4 nozzles. And now they are selling sump pumps that run off the water system instead of being electric .... sorta like a turbo. The water flow (from either the public or well systems) turns a sump pump. So when it rains, we suck out drinking water to get rid of the rain water.

 

[salmonoid]

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?Northeast

While development certainly does not help things, it has been dry here in Lancaster County for some time, and our streams have been well below average in terms of flow for the past two years. Overall rainfall has been below average and that has nothing to do with development.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Yes of course, I didn't suggest that is the only culprit. Which is why I said we have been struggling with low water for years.
Expect it to get worse in the next few with strip mall mania going on.

 

[FCP]

Berks County Well has been at drought emergency levels for a long time.

https://pa.water.usgs.gov/infodata/durplots/w30_be623.gif


FCP