Determining Water Availability
Determining how much water might be available for a project begins with exploration. The exploration may be as simple as researching available information including geologic maps, well records, aquifer test results for an area, and existing water rights. Some degree of field reconnaissance is also necessary; if a fair amount of existing information is available the field recon may be limited. In the absence of existing information a more detailed field recon program will be called for. Typical recon efforts will vary depending upon the geologic setting; the approach for alluvial deposits is different than for bedrock or mountainous terrain. The goal is always to develop an understanding of the geologic setting with respect to the likelihood of the occurrence of usable quantities of groundwater.