152 
FLORIDA STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 
caves below the casing - , clogging or partly clogging the opening, 
thereby reducing or entirely stopping the flow. 
NECESSITY OF GUARDING AGAINST WASTE OF ARTESIAN 
WATER. 
The records that have been given above indicate clearly that 
useless waste of water should not be permitted. An artesian well 
draws not on an inexhaustible supply of water from some remote 
source, but draws upon a relatively local supply which is appreci¬ 
ably affected by continued use. A well permitted to flow uninter¬ 
ruptedly draws not only on the supply of the land on which it is 
located, but affects also the supply of the adjacent land. A State, 
a community, or an individual that permits the useless and reck¬ 
less waste of artesian water will ultimately find a most valuable 
asset impaired by extravagance, and possibly no longer adequate. 
It is urged by some well owners that to cut off a well, or to 
stop the flow when not in use is unsafe as sand or other material 
may get into and clog the well. The flow of the well can be 
reduced to one-third or one-fourth its normal volume and the 
danger from the accumulation of sand, when there is such danger, 
guarded against. Moreover, where wells are cased, as they 
should be to the Vicksburg Limestone, it is doubtful if there is 
danger of clogging and reducing or stopping the flow. A law 
restricting the waste of artesian water is urgently recommended. 
SIMPLE METHOD OF determining FLOW OF ARTESIAN 
WELLS. 
A simple method for measuring approximately the flow from 
an artesian well has been devised by Professor J. E. Todd, 
formerly State Geologist of South Dakota. The following is 
Professor Todd’s method in full: 
“It is often desirable to know the amount of water delivered 
by an artesian well. Frequently a contract calls for a certain 
amount. It is also well to know whether the flow is diminishing 
and how much. 
“When a well is small, its flow may be measured easily with 
