Save Plumstead is monitoring selected township wells to help gauge the health of the aquifer. We do this with a sonic echo sounder, measuring the distance from the well cap to the water level, from two to four times a year. (In some few cases, we arrange to use a water logger.)* 

The goal is to measure as many wells as possible to create a database that can provide an accurate picture of our area's wells.  A survey like this has not been done since 1994, when the U.S. Geological Survey published Water Resources Investigations Report 94-4109, "Hydrogeology and ground-water quality of northern Bucks County, Pennsylvania," by Sloto and Schreffler.  We would like to re-visit as many of those wells as possible, as well as additional wells, including yours if you choose to participate.

There is no cost to you for participation in the well-monitoring survey. It will only take a few minutes of your time occasionally. Because water levels vary seasonally, we would like to visit each well from two to four times a year.

Step 1: Ideally, the well pump will need to be off for 30 to 40 minutes prior to taking the measurement, which means not running the washer or flushing the toilet or engaging other water-using devices.  Well water levels frequently drop 10 or more feet during any pumping phase.  It will take time for the water level in the well to recover. 

Step 2: We will remove your well cap and use a sonic echo sounder to measure the depth of your well.  Nothing is dropped or put into your well.  This is a non-intrusive procedure.  If we cannot get your well cap off without breaking the nuts holding the cap in place, we will not be able to measure your well at that time. Frequently nuts get rusted on well caps that have been in place 10-plus years.  Also, sometimes there is a bracket centering the pump wires that may obstruct the sound pulses. Again, if we cannot get a good reading, your well will not be measured at that time.

Step 3: The well cap is then put back on your well. The data will be logged and stored, and subsequently made publicly available. The public data will identify wells only by GPS—never by owners' names, addresses, or tax parcels.

For more information or to join the well-monitoring survey, contact:

Barbara Glassman at Contact@SavePlumsteadWater.org or glassmans@hotmail.com or 215-766-4979.

Thank you.

*The well monitoring is supported by a grant from the Wallace Global Fund.