The pumping of high-capacity wells (rated at 70 gallons per minute [gpm] or greater) can impact nearby small-quantity wells (rated at less than 70 gpm). Problems may result from a decrease in available water and/or by impacting water quality (e.g., drawing brines or other non-potable groundwater into potable aquifers). Part 317, Aquifer Protection and Dispute Resolution, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, created a groundwater dispute resolution process that is jointly administered by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).

Use MAGNET to perform an evaluation of the following situation.

A dispute has arisen between two farmers after one of the farmers installed a 500 gpm irrigation well 2000 ft. from the small domestic water supply well of the other farmer.  After the irrigation well had been operating for 3 months it was observed that the water level in the domestic well had declined over 30 feet.  The owner of the domestic well claims that the decline in water level in his well is due to pumping from the irrigation well and is trying to restrict that pumping.  The owner of the irrigation well claims that the decline is related to the recent drought; he has been advised that the "radius of influence" of his well is at most 500 feet. 

You are asked to determine whether it is possible for the water level decline in the domestic well to be produced by pumping from the irrigation well.  It is known that both wells produce from the same completely confined aquifer.  The only other information is that from a well pumping test on the irrigation well.  This showed a drawdown of 100 feet. in the pumping well after 8 hours of pumping at 500 gpm.  (Use reasonable values for any additional parameters required in this analysis).