A spring is an upwelling of water at the ground's surface. If you intend to use stream water, youabsolutelymusthaveit comprehensively tested at a laboratory. The good news is that natural sediments and soil organisms do an excellent job of keeping water clean, but they can become overloaded with heavy or repeated contamination. Pollutants in your test results may mean you need to change sources and go deeper for cleaner water. You may find pesticides from the farm next door, and E. coli or increased phosphates indicate contamination with sewage.
Finding a spring is often easier than it sounds. A good time to look is during the early spring months, in periods of high snowmelt or heavy rain. Watch for small runnels emptying into roadside ditches or otherwise dry canyons or arroyos, and follow them to their sources. Check back monthly and watch the progression of the local vegetation. If it remains green, or the ground remains wet year-round, there's a spring there. Many springs are little more than seeps.
If you live in a wooded area, look for wide, indented lines in the ground. This indicates a channel of some kind, either above or below ground. Seeps will produce a muddy basin |
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