The California drought of last year has already had far-reaching consequences. Forest fires have ravaged much of the Western part of the nation, food prices have started to rise as crops burnt and shriveled under the hot Californian sun, and people’s sources of water have dried up as the water table continues to sink. This was after a few dry years that officially became a drought in 2015; how is the outlook for 2016 and how will it affect people who need access to clean water? Here are some facts about the predictions for America’s current drought, and how you can find water despite the possible continuation of the drought into 2016.
As it stands, drought is covering nearly 20 per cent of the continental United States. The areas particularly affected are almost exclusively on the west coast, including all of California, the western half of Nevada, most of Oregon and stretching up past Idaho and into Montana. Needless to say, the area is vast, covering much of the food production centers of the country, and it seems to be staying at about the same levels heading so far in 2016. Minor increases in precipitation have been noted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), but most areas with droughts currently are expected to maintain their drought status until at least May.
However, there is some good news for those wondering if the droughts will be getting worse. At the time of writing this, NOAA has predicted that no areas in the continental United States are likely to develop a drought, except for places that are already experiencing one. That’s good news in many ways, meaning that many areas of the country can expect to experience average levels of precipitation, particularly places east of the Rocky Mountains.
However, in the areas where the droughts are expected to persist effective and efficient water discovery may be necessary, especially as water tables continue to drop. As many people who live too far away from city water supplies well know, a dropping water table means that many once-useful wells are now dried up or yielding less water. The need for newer, deeper is essential, and this requires specialized equipment and training.
American Water Surveyors has both the skills and equipment to find water in areas where drought is a problem, including in the southwestern United States. Using the latest in water detection technology, the GF3500, we can locate water deep beneath the Earth’s surface more accurately than other modes of detection. That means every time you drill for water after our surveys, you are much more likely to find a viable and useful water supply and with less time spent test drilling, you’ll have that water source quicker and for less money.
As the droughts in the United States are expected to stick around, it may be a good time to research water detection and surveying, especially if you’re using well water. With the help of American Water Surveyors, you could find a reliable water source even as water becomes harder to find.
