Hancock County, IL Water Table Trend
Hancock County's groundwater trend, from USGS's own readings
Over 24 years of USGS readings, the well tracking Hancock County's aquifer is declining faster than most declining counties: 27.3 ft per decade.
One well stands in for Hancock County's whole aquifer here, the honest simplification every page on this site carries.
What the well actually measured
The most recent reading put water 1.2 ft below land surface. Readings span 2002-05-16 to 2026-08-25, 53 measurements from USGS well USGS-403452091193401 (067-6-142-805 (Hancock Idoa Crn)), part of the National Water Information System. The qualifying bar and the OLS fit behind this trend are documented in the methodology guide.
Where Hancock County ranks
Of the 1,449 US counties with a usable trend, Hancock County ranks 1440th from fastest-rising to fastest-declining, 1 is the fastest-rising water table measured, 1449 the fastest-declining. About 17,008 people live in Hancock County, Illinois. See the fastest-moving counties guide for how Hancock County stacks up against the most extreme cases nationally.
What a declining table means for a well pump
Because Hancock County's water table is actually declining, not just a general worry, a well owner here should consider comparing home-warranty plans that cover well-pump failure before one happens.
A dropping table says nothing about water quality
Whether Hancock County's water table is rising or falling is independent of what's actually in the water. Depletion can concentrate naturally-occurring minerals, so it's worth checking directly with a water test rather than assuming a depth trend says anything about quality.