Abstract
The artesian wells furnishing water to the Latham Water District, Colonie, New York, are among the largest in the State. They are also somewhat unique because of their location between the Hudson and Mohawk rivers which are respectively 300 feet and 125 feet lower than the well sites. The presence of artesian water was discovered about 3J miles west of Watervilet in the late nineties by engineers engaged in making test borings over a proposed canal route from the Hudson to the Mohawk river. The City of Cohoes interested in securing anew water supply then did considerable prospecting in the vicinity of the present Albany Airport, which lies at an elevation of 270 feet above sea level, and developed several wells. Some of them are still flowing and are being used by the Airport, Albany County Welfare Buildings, and Hospital. They have a static head of about 25 feet and a free flow of about 250,000 gallons per day. For many years they furnished water to the Shaker settlement which stood where the Airport now is and maintained service on the second floors of the community buildings without pumping. My interest in this field was first aroused in 1906. In 1912 an opportunity was afforded to have the wells cleaned and placed in order for a test. They were found to be about 100 feet deep and seated without strainers into a shallow bed of gravel varying in thickness from 18 to 24 inches. The overlying stratum was mostly clay. The wells were pumped in rotation over a period of about three months and the effect noted on the other wells in the field. From
Published Version
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