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Aug 9, 2007 7:16 pm US/Eastern
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Drought Affects Eastern Shore Wells
by Alex DeMetrick
SOMERSET COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) ―
Earlier this summer, the only water in Pam Hutchinson's house came out of a bottle. Nothing from the tap, nothing from the toilet.
It took a new well to get the water back.
Drill rigs have been busy from Princess Anne in Somerset County to the Wicomico County border. More than 120 wells have gone dry this summer.
Rita Jones is lucky. So far the underground aquifer the area taps into is still producing water at her home.
"A well went out the next street over on Sunday. Now we seem to be at the tail end of where the cluster is, but we don't know how far it's going to spread," said Jones.
The drought that's been drying crops in the field means underground water tables are not re-charging. State regulators are investigating if a local sod farm may be drawing too much.
They've already discovered the state's largest prison has been pulling 230,000 gallons per day, when it should be taking 25,000. it's been ordered to cut back.
Because sinking a new well can cost as much as $6,000. That's a lot of money in a county that is not wealthy.
The state is providing grants and loans, but even so it's been a long, dry summer for some.
Maryland's Department of the Environment says the aquifer is not damaged, but levels have dipped enough to dry up shallower wells.
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