Mount Simon Sandstone Fossil Aquifer — Southern Wisconsin
Deepest aquifer in the Cambrian-Ordovician system, the Mount Simon Sandstone contains fossil water beneath southeastern Wisconsin. Radiocarbon dating shows water ages of 15,000-50,000 years. Municipal pumping in the Milwaukee-Waukesha area has created a significant cone of depression.
Overview
Deepest aquifer in the Cambrian-Ordovician system, the Mount Simon Sandstone contains fossil water beneath southeastern Wisconsin. Radiocarbon dating shows water ages of 15,000-50,000 years. Municipal pumping in the Milwaukee-Waukesha area has created a significant cone of depression.
Additional Notes
Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey deep aquifer data. Radium concerns in some deep wells.
Water Source Data
Water Intelligence Score Breakdown
Total: 77/100Risk Assessment
Source depletion probability
Rights & regulatory exposure
Contamination & ecosystem risk
Geological Intelligence
Formation & aquifer contextVariable porosity — classic aquifer formation
Ancient water, no modern recharge — non-renewable on human timescales
Land Details
PrivateWater Rights
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- Cannot be sold separately from the land
- Subject to "reasonable use" doctrine
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Data Sources & Attribution
Updated Apr 4, 2026Data is sourced from public and authoritative providers. Hi3 Water aggregates, normalizes, and scores records but does not assert ownership of underlying source data. Always verify critical details with the primary source before any decision.