Water Dowsing – Are You a Believer?

Water Dowsing – Are You a Believer?

The effectiveness of a water well greatly depends on the amount of groundwater it’s pulling from. Likewise, the cost of creating the well is dependent on how far down it has to be drilled in order to reach this resource. Since groundwater is obviously located below the surface, there is no proven way to find where it flows and how far down – unless you’re a believer of water dowsing.

Also known as water witching, divining, and doodlebugging, dowsing extends way past just locating groundwater. Dowsing can be used to find a number of resources, such as oil, mineral deposits, buried utility lines, septic tanks, lost jewelry, and more. Recognized as a real practice to some, this is evident in the existence of the American Society of Dowsers Inc., established in 1961, which provides workshops, presentations, and an annual convention for experts and believers of the craft.

How does it work? Water dowsing simply includes forked sticks, a rod, and a pendulum. While practicing, the forked sticks are held in front of the dowser and will be reflected toward the ground, while the dowser holds up a pair of L-shaped rods that will cross over one another. A pendulum suspended on a string will vertically deflect as the dowser moves over a good location.

When it comes to measuring the validity of this practice, we have to rely on statistics alone. Although water dowsing holds a history of success, some may argue that water exists under the earth’s surface almost everywhere so the odds are in the dowser’s favor. Due to the fact that the practice lacks scientific merit, The National Groundwater Association (NGWA) does not promote water dowsing.

The February 2017 issue of the magazine, Popular Mechanics, contains an article about a homeowner who was recently tight for cash and looking for justification when it came to installing a much-needed water well. In desperation, he hired a dowser who would aid in his quest for the best location of groundwater on his property. While the process seemed unorthodox, the homeowner followed along and, in the end, owned a well that shot out approximately fifty gallons per minute, which the rig operator claimed was the best well in town. While the homeowner is still skeptical to this day, he was impressed enough to share his story.

Whether you find yourself a believer or not, dowsing has found its way into the water well industry. While there’s speculation that it’s no better than a coin toss, when it could mean the difference between thousands of dollars, some people are willing to take a chance on this profession.