Maryland and Delaware - Climate Response - Water Table Wells

Groundwater levels for the monthly water conditions include a combination of real-time continuous (3 of the 28 wells) and discrete or hand-held (25 of the 28 wells) water levels. Discrete measurements include one measurement during the month and the date is indicated on the hydrograph. For the real-time wells, discrete measurements were used up until June 2010. From July 2010 onward, the discrete measurements were used for the real-time wells.

Criteria for selecting a groundwater site for assessing climatic conditions:

Located in an unconfined (water-table) aquifer;
Open to a single, known hydrogeologic unit/aquifer;
Groundwater hydrograph reflects changes in climatic conditions;
No indicated nearby pumpage and likely to remain uninfluenced by pumpage, regulated streamflow or changes related to human activities;
Minimum period of record is 10 years of continuous/monthly records;
Minimally affected by irrigation, canals, drains, pipelines, and other potential sources of artificial recharge;
Well has casing--dug wells generally not used;
Water levels show no apparent hydrologic connection to nearby streams;
Well has never gone dry; and
Long-term accessibility likely.