264-4 Know Your Water: Results of Well Water Testing in Western Kansas

Session: Understanding Karst Hydrology and Karst Aquifers Using Innovative Tracers and Other Technologies (Posters)

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Rural homes across Western Kansas have historically relied on the use of well water for drinking. These wells draw upon many different sources of water but usually remain relatively shallow at less than 100 feet (Buchanan et al., 2023). Domestic wells typically draw from alluvial aquifers, but some may tap into the Ogallala or Dakota aquifer at much greater depths, ~400 feet or less (Buchanan et al., 2023), or ~2,000 feet or less, respectively (Macfarlane, 1995). To access these sources, wells are drilled into various rock layers. These range from the unconsolidated sand and gravel of the alluvial and Ogallala aquifers to the deeper sandstone formations of the Dakota aquifer and through chalk and limestone layers (Buchanan et al., 2023). These domestic wells are privately owned and thus are not subject to routine tests and regulations like public water systems. This leads to an increased risk of unknown contamination. Common potential contaminants include nitrates, which routinely get into wells through septic systems and agricultural drainage (Young & Townsend, 1999). High levels of nitrates can cause serious health defects, especially to young children and pregnant women (Sedgwick County Health Department, n.d.). Solving this issue requires regular testing of the water, better management of the land around the well, and an increase in public knowledge. To stop the potential harmful effects of excess dissolved nitrates, well owners must understand the danger nitrates pose and implement regular water testing habits, filtration systems, or alternate sources of clean, safe drinking water.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-9504

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