Phelps County, MO Water Table Trend
Is the water table dropping in Phelps County, MO?
Phelps County's long-term well puts the trend at 7.5 ft per decade, declining faster than most declining counties, based on 110 measurements since 1951.
One well stands in for Phelps 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 369.1 ft below land surface. Readings span 1951-11-05 to 2026-07-06, 110 measurements from USGS well MO005-375749091475001 (Dept Of Conservation Rolla), part of the National Water Information System. The qualifying bar and the OLS fit behind this trend are documented in the methodology guide.
Where Phelps County ranks
Of the 1,449 US counties with a usable trend, Phelps County ranks 1359th from fastest-rising to fastest-declining, 1 is the fastest-rising water table measured, 1449 the fastest-declining. About 45,672 people live in Phelps County, Missouri. See the fastest-moving counties guide for how Phelps County stacks up against the most extreme cases nationally.
What a declining table means for a well pump
Because Phelps 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 Phelps 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.