Scott County, IL Water Table Trend
Scott County, IL: what the water table is actually doing
Scott County's long-term well puts the trend at 1.1 ft per decade, declining, slower than most declining counties, based on 82 measurements since 2004.
One well stands in for Scott 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 8.7 ft below land surface. Readings span 2004-01-07 to 2026-09-28, 82 measurements from USGS well USGS-393750090333101 (171-5-22-1183 (Scott 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 Scott County ranks
Of the 1,449 US counties with a usable trend, Scott County ranks 1097th from fastest-rising to fastest-declining, 1 is the fastest-rising water table measured, 1449 the fastest-declining. About 4,880 people live in Scott County, Illinois. See the fastest-moving counties guide for how Scott County stacks up against the most extreme cases nationally.
What a declining table means for a well pump
Because Scott 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 Scott 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.