WWC5: Water well log database

WWC5 – Water Well Completion Record Database and Interactive Mapper (well logs): The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) provides two ways to access its extensive database of well completion records, a source of information on well logs in the state of Kansas.

• KGS’ basic interface to query and access WWC5’s well logs is at: https://www.kgs.ku.edu/Magellan/WaterWell/index.html. This link is also a gateway into the various WWC5 products (link to the Interactive mapper below, archives of all well data; interpreted logs, metadata and more).
  • In its basic use, you select a list of available well logs by county or legal description (Township and Range, and optionally Section).
  • The resulting table includes the legal description, owner, well depth, water level, estimate yield, well use, date of completion, and a link to a scan of the well log. 
  • The table, esp. when selecting an entire county, can be extensive.
  • The list can be downloaded to a text file for importing into a spreadsheet for further processing.
  • You can also request a text file of the well log data for the list, which again can be imported into a spreadsheet for processing.
• KGS’ Interactive Mapper allows accessing the same well log information via a GIS mapping interface is at: https://maps.kgs.ku.edu/wwc5/index.html?t=wwc5.
  • The “Display” tab provides control and options on the items displayed.
    • You can toggle the “WWC5 water wells” on and off to find a location made difficult due to the number of log locations displayed. [See also Tools below which allows filtering of well logs.]
    • You can also select an aerial photo coverage to use as a base map.
• The “Go To” tab allows you to go to a particular address, legal description, KGS ID number, latitude–longitude, or county.
• The “Tools” tab, among other things, allows you to: a) color-code wells by depth, static water level, yield or type; b) download well log information for the selected map extent; c) filter wells displayed by various criteria; d) apply labels; e) and print and save the resulting map.
• The “Links/Legend” tab provides links to other explanation resources and a legend for the map.
• Notes:
  • The Interactive Mapper is likely the easiest way to find wells in a specific area due to the magnitude of wells in the database. The use of the filtering noted above can also be used to remove unhelpful wells from the map.
  • The “?” in the upper right-hand corner provides access to the KGS’ documentation of the application.
  • While the well log database is extensive, it is not comprehensive. For example if you go to a particular area and select to show only “wells requiring water rights,” you will not necessarily get a complete or accurate listing. Use instead the KGS’s WIMAS application. Use instead the KGS’s WIMAS application.   

To come:

• More detail on the use of each interface with screen shots, a description of outputs, and tips of processing the resulting data.
• One or more videos demonstrating the same.
• Add a QR code the publication, once posted

Page last updated: 3/7/2022