McDonald County, MO Water Table Trend
McDonald County, MO: what the water table is actually doing
McDonald County's long-term well puts the trend at 67.7 ft per decade, declining faster than most declining counties, based on 110 measurements since 1931.
One well stands in for McDonald 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 276.4 ft below land surface. Readings span 1931-01-01 to 2026-08-26, 110 measurements from USGS well MO005-363236094290301 (Noel), part of the National Water Information System. The qualifying bar and the OLS fit behind this trend are documented in the methodology guide.
Where McDonald County ranks
Of the 1,449 US counties with a usable trend, McDonald County ranks 1448th from fastest-rising to fastest-declining, 1 is the fastest-rising water table measured, 1449 the fastest-declining. About 24,054 people live in McDonald County, Missouri. See the fastest-moving counties guide for how McDonald County stacks up against the most extreme cases nationally.
What a declining table means for a well pump
Because McDonald 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 McDonald 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.