Ground water in the Rutland area occurs both in the bedrock and the overlying unconsolidated glacial deposits. Bedrock in the area is composed of a series of metamorphic and igneous rocks. Water from wells drilled in bedrock can be obtained in sufficient quantities for domestic use nearly anywhere in the area. The median well yield for 4 different bedrock hydrogeologic units ranges from 2 to 7 gallons per minute. Unconsolidated deposits in the Rutland area include till, clay, sand, and gravel. Saturated sand and gravel capable of yielding more than 200 gallons per minute is found in the major valleys of the area. Chemical analyses of water from 72 wells indicate that 29 percent of these sources contain one or more constituents that exceed the limits recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1977, 1978) for public drinking water supplies. The most common problem constituents are iron and manganese. In addition, elevated levels of chloride and nitrate suggest that 65 percent of the sampled sources have some water-quality deterioration. (USGS)
