Ground water is available in Kiowa County, Colo., in quantities suitable for municipal or irrigation uses from at least two aquifers, the Big Sandy-Rush Creek alluvial aquifer and the Ogallala aquifer. The Dakota Sandstone and the Cheyenne Sandstone Member of the Purgatoire Formation may provide marginally sufficient water for municipal or irrigation purposes. Whil e wells in parts of the Ogallala aquifer have shown significant water-level declines in recent years, the Dakota Sandstone and Cheyenne Sandstone Member of the Purgatoire Formation are virtually undeveloped in the county , primarily because of the depth to the top of these formations (500-1,00 feet). Where water is not available from the Big Sandy-Rush Creek and Ogallala aquifers in the county, supplies sufficient for domestic or stock use may be obtained from shallow wells in several minor aquifers. The quality of ground water in the county varies widely, but dissolved-solids concentrations are usually greater than 500 milligrams per liter, except in parts of the Ogallala aquifer. The water is generally very hard and sulfate concentrations are usually greater than 250 milligrams per liter, except in parts of the Ogallala aquifer. High concentrations of selenium (greater than 10 micrograms per liter) in three-fourths of the wells sampled and locally high concentrations of fluoride, nitrate, iron, and manganese limit the suitability of the ground water for municipal and domestic use. (USGS)
