Aquifer data from four wells in the Mendenhall Valley near Juneau, Alaska

This report summarizes data collected during drilling and testing of four wells in Mendenhall Valley, an area being developed as a suburb of Juneau, Alaska. Previous studies indicated that the glacial deposits on the east side of the valley had the potential for producing the large quantities of water needed for a community water supply. The drilling defined an upper aquifer between the water table and a depth of 215 feet and a lower aquifer below 252 feet. The testing did not define the storage coefficient or transmissivity of the upper aquifer. Drawdowns within 20 feet of the test well were less than 12 feet when the pumping rate was 300 gallons per minute. Greater pumping rates could be sustained in larger diameter wells having larger screened intervals in the upper aquifer but would produce greater drawdowns. The performance of the lower aquifer was not tested. Water in the upper aquifer is of adequate quality for drinking water, but may require treatment for iron; water from the lower aquifer is brackish. (USGS)