Older Water Well Tables Dropping
Water tables all over the vast Yakima, Kittitas & Benton Counties have been dropping over the years. Most wells that appear to be affected are the older wells that were drilled 40-50 years ago. Picture below is Gary Lydin & David Oldham, Owner/Operators of Apple Valley Well Drilling, drilling new water well for customers in Gleed where the water table has dropped.
Dependence upon groundwater increases during drought often resulting in increased groundwater pumping to meet water demands. A well pumping at a faster rate than the aquifer is recharging, either by precipitation or other underground flow the water levels in the well can drop, resulting in decreased water availability of groundwater.