Groundwater

The sorted layers of sand and gravel known as stratified drift aquifers provide enough underground water flow to support the wells used by Eaton residents and businesses.  Transmissivity is the ability of an aquifer to transmit water through it.  Though water will gradually seep through silt and clay as well as fissures in bedrock, sand and gravel support the greatest flow.  The map below shows aquifers the have been identified along the Route 153 corridor.  Clicking on any one will show the transmissivity for that aquifer.

Transmissivity is a measure of the ease with which water flows through soil.  That water originates on the surface where it can be contaminated by road salt, oil spills, inadequate septic systems, and other contaminants.  Of particular concern is potential contamination near areas where an aquifer intersects the surface of the land and precipitation can carry contaminants directly into the aquifer.  These areas should be identified and provided with special protection from pollutants.  

The Upper Saco Valley Land Trust created a map of aquifers as part of their 2011 natural resource inventory for their service area.  It is similar to the map above but also shows some aquifers along the Brownfield Road corridor, Potter Road, and Toll Hill Road.

The Saco Headwaters Alliance prepared the map below of aquifers in Eaton along with potential contamination sites.