The Recharge of Groundwater

A major concern of Borough planners is the adequacy of ground water resources for domestic use. It is estimated that each person uses from 75 to 100 gallons of water each day. A family of four therefore uses from 110,000 to 150,000 gallons of water each year. For residences outside the city this water must come mainly from individual wells.

The wells draw water from aquifers that are mainly recharged each spring by the melting snow. The actual pathway of water to the well is not entirely known, but for those living above the valley, it must originate in the country hills.

The University's Institute of Water Resources estimates that less than a month's equivalent of the annual precipitation is effective in recharging the groundwater resources that are utilized by households. This amounts to about 0.9 to 1.9 gallons of recharge per square foot of land. Hence a family of four will use the amount of water collected by 1.4 to 3.8 acres of land.

This area should be compared to the 1 to 5 acre lot sizes required by Borough zoning codes. However wells do not necessarily go dry if the recharge areas are covered with houses on one acre lots because the wastewater going into septic tanks and drainfields is effective in recharging aquifers.

Without really meaning to, you may be practicing conservation through multiple use of a valuable resource. If so, be comforted as you slake your thirst --the neighbor's still alive who drank it first.