The Sand and Gravel Aquifer

The sand and gravel aquifers occur throughout most of Wisconsin, except for some parts in the southwestern area of the state. The sand and gravel formations have the following characteristics:

• They are the result of material deposited as glaciers retreated
• They are typically shallow aquifers, however, they can be more than 300 feet thick in places
• They are a source of a large amount of water
• They are susceptible to pollution due to their shallow nature and their limited filtering capacity