PROBLEMS FROM DEVELOPMENT 119 



River dropped moderately below normal, because of the 

 meager storage afforded by Lake Overholser. In 1939 and 

 1940, and again in 1943, droughts caused severe shortages 

 in the supply, and for relief in these emergencies the city 

 pumped 3 to 4 million gallons a day from 15 wells along the 

 North Canadian watercourse. Preliminary studies indicate 

 that several million gallons a day of ground water could be 

 pumped from this watercourse. The quality is inferior to 

 surface-water supplies, however, and the wells are not likely 

 to be used by the city, except during emergencies. The water 

 is used for irrigation and is suitable for some industrial uses. 



In several other cities water levels in wells have been drop- 

 ping rapidly in recent years, and since the rate of pumping has 

 been increasing, the decline is attributed largely to that in- 

 crease. 



Fond du Lac and Green Bay, Wis. 51 In Fond du Lac the 

 static water level in one well has dropped 5 feet a year since 

 1946, and artesian pressures are generally 200 feet lower 

 than in 1900. And in Green Bay, where some wells once 

 flowed by artesian pressure, 10 million gallons a day is now 

 being pumped, and water levels are now as much as 300 feet 

 below the surface. The pumping in both cities is from wells 

 within the city limits, and distribution of wells over a wider 

 area would provide the same quantity of water with less 

 pumping lift. Hydrologic studies are needed to show 

 whether the sandstone aquifer can satisfy the eventual needs 

 of the communities, or whether pipelines from Lake Michi- 

 gan or other sources may ultimately be necessary. 



Lansing, Mich. 52 About 25 million gallons a day is 

 pumped from sandstone aquifers, and artesian pressures 

 have declined more than 50 feet in some wells. Pumpage 



si Reference: Foley, F. C, Ground Water, in "The Sciences and Conserva- 

 tion," Univ. Wis. Centennial Conference on Conservation, 

 1949. 



52 Reference: Ferris, J. G., Personal communication. 



