U.S. Water News Online
BAR HARBOR, Maine -- The U.S. Geological Survey says an recent earthquake near Bar Harbor could have unpredictable effects on the water table, but no problems had been reported with the local water supply.
Since the quake, the water level at one of the agency's monitoring wells in Acadia National Park dropped by 3 1/2 feet, hydrologist Gregory Stewart said. The water level was still dropping but was beginning to level off, he said.
The Mount Desert region's fractured bedrock makes it difficult to predict whether or not other wells will be affected. Stewart said he couldn't rule out other wells having problems such as cloudy water due to changes in the water table.
Bar Harbor and some municipalities on Mount Desert Island have public water systems, but most residents in outlying areas rely on wells for drinking water.
The Hancock County Emergency Management Agency had not received any reports of compromised wells, said Linda Feury, deputy director.
The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 3.9, was followed by quakes with magnitudes of 3.5 and 2.
The latest earthquake caused rocks to fall onto Acadia National Park's Park Loop Road and burst some water pipes, but no injuries were reported. Acadia National Park road crews had to use loaders and dump trucks to remove the rocks.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the drop in water level was more of an oddity than something for residents to worry about.
"We're not trying to create some kind of public scare. It's more of a public interest thing. It's a pretty dramatic change," Stewart said.
What struck the scientists is the fact that there's little reference in scientific literature to drops in water levels after earthquakes, he said.
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