Fluctuations in groundwater levels related to regional and local withdrawals in the fractured-bedrock groundwater system in northern Wake County, North Carolina, March 2008-February 2009

• DOI: 10.3133/sir20105219
• Publication Date: 2018-08-15T20:03:28Z
• Authors: Melinda J. Chapman; Naser Almanaseer; Bryce McClenney; Natalie Hinton
• Keywords: Bedrock; Water well; Dewatering

A study of dewatering the fractured-bedrock aquifer in a localized area east-central North Carolina was conducted from March 2008 through February 2009 to gain an understanding why some privately owned wells and monitoring were intermittently dry. Although itself nature, resulting water-resources data information produced will help enable resource managers make sound water-supply water-use decisions similar crystalline-rock setting parts Piedmont Blue Ridge Physiographic Provinces. In June 2005, homeowners subdivision approximately 11 homes on lots 1 2 acres size unincorporated Wake County, Carolina, reported extremely low water pressure temporarily dry during brief period. This State, which is Province, undergoing rapid growth development. Similar well conditions again July 2007. effort evaluate intermittent loss, begun measure monitor levels groundwater use. During period 2009, regular documented with many ranging between 100 200 feet below land surface. Prior this period, 1980s late 1990s range 15 50 The includes three community more than 30 private within 2,000-foot radius dewatered wells. low, recovery observed periods heavy rainfall, most likely result decreased withdrawals owing less demand for irrigation purposes. areal patterns delineated nine water-level measurement 2009. Correlation groundwater-level distribution orientations geologic structures obtained surficial mapping, borehole geophysical measurements, interpretation fracture traces suggests two dominant trends striking north-south N. 65 degrees W. variation overall response noted continuous records monitored observation largest declines declined as much 247 mid-July early August 2008, usage. had decline about 94 same large recorded indicated substantial temporary loss storage near wells, thus reducing amount available shallow (those total depths 300 feet), failures until such time recovered.