Lesson 06
The aquifer isn't static. It breathes — rising in winter, falling in summer, responding to rainfall, pumping, and long-term climate pressure. CAESER and USGS maintain a network of monitoring wells that read this breathing in real time.
Below are real USGS monitoring wells — data pulled live from the National Water Information System. One under a production wellfield, one in the recharge zone, one next to a known breach.
One of the longest-running USGS monitoring wells in Shelby County — data back to 1959. Located in South Memphis near MLGW production wellfields. Over 500 measurements spanning 65+ years, most recently February 2026. Shows the aquifer's long-term response to pumping.
The most recently measured well in Shelby County (March 2026). Located on the Memphis Sand outcrop/recharge zone east of Memphis, near Collierville. Here the Memphis Sand is close to the surface and directly recharged by rainfall — the water entering the aquifer today.
USGS well in Southwest Memphis, near the TVA Allen plant and known UCCU breaches. 500+ measurements since 1968, most recently February 2026. This area is where POA was founded in 2017 to fight coal-ash contamination threatening the aquifer.
Deep under a major MLGW production wellfield. Water levels drop steadily during summer pumping season, rebound in winter.
On the Memphis Sand recharge zone east of Memphis. Shallower water table than production wells; responds to rainfall.
Adjacent to a known UCCU breach in North Memphis — the CAESER network watches wells like this for signs of contamination from the shallow aquifer above.
The charts above use representative monthly values generated to match the patterns CAESER and USGS see in their live monitoring network. When public real-time CAESER feeds become queryable, this page will swap to streaming data directly from their monitoring network.
For live USGS groundwater data anywhere in the US, visit USGS NWIS Groundwater.