Water in Colorado, Well is is!

Figured you just needed to see an empty well from State Wildlife Area in Upper Beaver Creek, Penrose, Colorado today!

Water wells have been used for EONS to supply water. If you dig you will eventually find water, sometimes shallow and sometimes very deep.

These hand dug wells were crucial to families and their survival. At depth of usually 10 to 30 feet, these were called alluvial wells. They draw water from rapidly changing upper aquifers and are known to have sand, silt, and other loose materials in them. This top water will eventually seep and filter through all the layers of earth to a deeper closed aquifer. These lower aquifers were not accessible by sheer depth to pioneers.

Another important source of water was through a natural spring or creek. So many deaths occurred through history in water practices, as filtration and boiling was not something that was common. Though ancient civilizations used devices to filter, the main reasoning being simply to get the dirt out. River and Creek water was thought to be pure because it moved rapidly over the rocks and was clear. Terrible water was connected with stagnant unmoving pools and it was thought that the moving kept it safe at one time.

Wildlife upstream could cause devisation. The particulates in wells could grown microorganisms that could be very dangerous. Boiling water was commonly mostly done in areas of “pollution”. These water handling practices led to many outbreaks of waterborne illness. It wasn’t until the 1970s that safe water practices really began. There are still outbreaks that can happen.

Colorado is known to have some of the best water in the world. In Colorado, Artisian wells can be as far as 2,500 feet or more depending on location. They draw water from closed aquifers unlike the one seen here which is an alluvial well. All water can be dangerously if not treated and obtained carefully.

This well could have been strictly used for irrigation. Not sure on the age of this or the use. I just know it’s cool to look at! I have a soft spot for anything that uses stacked rocks or rock work….