Lancaster County, VA Water Table Trend
Is the water table dropping in Lancaster County, VA?
Lancaster County's long-term well puts the trend at 9.9 ft per decade, declining faster than most declining counties, based on 144 measurements since 1969.
One well stands in for Lancaster 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 95.3 ft below land surface. Readings span 1969-09-16 to 2026-06-22, 144 measurements from USGS well USGS-374142076272701 (59k 9), part of the National Water Information System. The qualifying bar and the OLS fit behind this trend are documented in the methodology guide.
Where Lancaster County ranks
Of the 1,449 US counties with a usable trend, Lancaster County ranks 1388th from fastest-rising to fastest-declining, 1 is the fastest-rising water table measured, 1449 the fastest-declining. About 11,062 people live in Lancaster County, Virginia. See the fastest-moving counties guide for how Lancaster County stacks up against the most extreme cases nationally.
What a declining table means for a well pump
Because Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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.