Historical Information
Artesian wells are named after the former province of Artois in
France, where many artesian wells were drilled by Carthusian monks
since 1126. They used a rod with a sharp end, called a bore, to
penetrate a layer of impermeable rock. Their percussive drilling,
just hammering on the end of the bore, broke through with sheer
human force. The water that rose had percolated through the pores
of the rock, so that many contaminants have been filtered out, and
it proved safer to drink than standing or river water.
Petrifying Springs, also known as “Pets”, is one of my favorite
parks in Southeastern Wisconsin. The name Petrifying Springs is
derived from a calcareous formation appearing on the park's south
ravine. The stones that met with rainwater undergo a chemical
action that, over time, causes them to resemble petrified flora
material. The drilled artesian well in the Niagara dolomite is the
park's "spring". The park follows the winding Pike River and has
been home to the artesian well since the 1930’s. Long before the
well was built, the area was known, by early settlers and
travelers, for its clean water source, according to Cindy Nelson,
curator at the Kenosha History Center. Around 2006 the water from
the well started showing fine grey sediment. Through the generous
donation from local residents Joseph and Kathy Madrigrano, Jr., to
determine the source of this sediment, a filtering system was
installed, the 50 year “Well House” was remodeled and (per Joe’s
request) water was made available to visitors year round. The
donation also provided for the nice walkway up to the building.
Local residents and visitors alike continue to bring empty jugs
to fill up at the well spigot. They prefer this well water to the
tap water in their homes.
Geological Information
The surface of Kenosha County is a gently undulating plain sloping
eastward towards Lake Michigan. The valleys and ridges trend north
and south, parallel to the lake shore. The rock formation
immediately underlying the drift is the Niagra limestone. The drift
is generally 50-100' deep and in many instances 100-200' deep. The
thickness of the Niagra is variable on the account of the unequal
erosion of the surface in preglacial time. The known maximum
thickness in Kenosha is 280'. Along the shore of Lake Michigan
flowing wells are obtained at various places in the drift. Here in
Petrifying Springs Park in the valley of the Pike River is an
example of this. Strong flowing wells from the deep-seated rock,
the St. Peter and Upper Cambrian (Potsdam) sandstone, occur here
creating an aquifer.
An aquifer is what provides the water for an artesian well.
It is a layer of soft porous rock, like limestone or sandstone that
absorbs and transmits large quantities of water from an inlet path
at high elevation. The water source might be fed by snowmelt or
precipitation.
There are two kinds of aquifer:
1. a confined aquifer where the water is trapped between the soil
or rock and cannot pass through. This is called an impermeable
layer
2. an unconfined aquifer has an impermeable layer below it , but
not above it.
The confined aquifer that is under pressure is an artesian aquifer.
This pressure will often push water to the surface into a well
drilled into an artesian aquifer.
Water from an artesian well is usually cold and free of
contaminants, making it desirable for drinking.
The Petrifying Springs Artesian Well is located inside of the
“Well House” and cannot be accessed by the public. There is a
pressure tank inside that provides the capacity to fill jugs
nonstop. There is a pump in the well making the water available to
the public year round from the spigot on the "Well House".
Go ahead. Have a taste! Bring a jug home with you!
To log this EarthCache you must complete 3 tasks.
1. What type of aquifer is located here? (email answer)
2. Bring a thermometer. Measure the temperature of the water coming
out of the pump house. (email answer)
3. Please take a photo of your team with your GPSr at the Artesian
Well. However, if you are solo caching, a photo of your GPSr with
enough of the Artesian Well in the background that can be
identified, will also be accepted. Please upload your photo(s) with
your “found it” log.
See photo example below.
CONGRATS TO tom k. ON THE FTF!
Please be advised, failure to complete the THREE tasks
above (emailing the answers and posting your photo) will result in
log deletion without notice.
You do NOT have to wait for confirmation from me before
logging your find.
Please do not make any reference to these answers in your log
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