Water Levels Rise In Most Canterbury Wells

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31167, 17 September 1966, Page 16

Water Levels Rise In Most Canterbury Wells

Water levels in wells throughout Canterbury had generally risen during winter, said the latest report of the Geological Survey, issued yesterday. L'evels for most of the province are similar to the spring levels recorded in previous years.

In the Waikari - Culverden area levels are expected to rise for deeper wells. Wells in Oxford - Rangiora seaward from ■ Horrelville should also rise. These rises are because of the time taken for rainfall on the foothills and the western extremities of the plains to seep into the ground and flow as ground water towards the coast. For the area between the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers it appears that local rainfall has resulted in wells, both artesian and water table near the coast showing a rise in level.

Wells located further inland have not yet shown a rise in water table level and probably will not do so until rain in the foothills is sufficient to cause rivers, such as the Hawkins and Selwyn, to flow in the upper reaches of their courses. In South Canterbury, particularly near the Waitaki river, ground water levels are below normal for this time of the year. This is similar to the situation last year when only heavy rain during January raised the level.

The survey warns that there could be difficulties in the area during the summer if dry conditions prevail Wells may go dry if the watertable level drops to below the bottom of the wells or to a depth that is too great for pumping equipment to raise the water to the surface.