California Farmers Hire "Water Witches" to Find Water

NBC Bay Area ^ | Monday, Mar 3, 2014 | Monday, Mar 3, 2014

[nickcarraway]

With California in the grips of drought, farmers throughout the state are using a mysterious and some say foolhardy tool for locating underground water: dowsers, or water witches.

Practitioners of dowsing use rudimentary tools - usually copper sticks or wooden "divining rods" that resemble large wishbones - and what they describe as a natural energy to find water or minerals hidden deep underground.

While both state and federal water scientists disapprove of dowsing, California "witchers" are busy as farmers seek to drill more groundwater wells due to the state's record drought that persists despite recent rain.

[Redcitizen]

That’s why the utility companies always say call before you dig. lol.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

You just have to believe.

[Lizavetta]

A vineyard owner friend of mine, smartest rational guy I've ever met, has used dowsers at times. He doesn't know how it works and he says no one really knows why it works.

But it works.

[ozarkat]

We had our last well witched and the man was dead-on. Our well has never run out of water and it was exactly as deep as he said it would be.

We are now in need of a well on the other side of our property. I need to find a water witcher in NW Arkansas. Our previous guy has passed away. How do you go about finding a water witcher? I’m looking for recommendations/referrals. Can anyone help us out?

[RegulatorCountry]

Around here, all the local well digging outfits would know, it’s common practice to have not just the primary well site but the repair well site dowsed or “witched.”

[Cvengr]

Better they pay a con man, than an actual spiritual dowser. The spiritual consequences are far more damaging than the allure for water from familiar spirits.