WorldWide Drilling Resource

Through the Back Door! by Jim Kuebelbeck Unable to explain how certain, sometimes uneducated and illiterate early pioneers and homesteaders were able to sense underground water sources from the surface, U.S. geologists began to refer to water finders as “water witchers”. The deroga- tory term has become a part of American vocabulary. Never could I have imagined I would be doing something today I once ridiculed as “mental delusion” or “foolish anecdotal folklore”. Growing up on a farm in rural Minnesota in the 1940s, I had heard many of the often-embellished stories about old-time water finders who supposedly were able to somehow sense the presence of underground water sources. Not only had some of these early water find- ers claimed such abilities, but many even claimed to be able to determine the depth of the subsurface water source as well! My ingrained belief system at the time did not allow for the possibility any human could possibly know or sense anything below the surface of the earth. Because of my so-called scientific background and inborn skepticism of anything unexplainable, my main initial interest in the practice of water dowsing was to attempt to discredit and debunk the many unbelievable stories I had heard. How wrong I was. I was subse- quently forced to admit I wasn’t as smart as I assumed. Somewhere along the way, this sly fox was eaten by the chickens! How this all came about is far too lengthy for the contents of a monthly magazine, however. Without going into my own theories about the whys and wherefores of this fascinating human faculty, I will simply say: I happen to be a water dowser. My wife works with me; and using the dowsing methods we developed over the years, we have been able to help many hundreds of desperate landowners in their search for satisfac- tory groundwater sources. During this time, we have often located water sources for skeptical geologists and hydrogeologists as well, who were unable to locate ground- water sources on their own properties by what they referred to as “more conventional” methods. It has been most interesting, however, to discover (for fear of ridicule) many of these geologists and hydrogeologists seldom share their successful water dowsing experience with their col leagues! On more than one occasion, after successful- ly locating a satisfactory water supply on their properties, I have been told, “But Jim, you can’t prove you’re actually find- ing streams of underground water.” When I would then ask how they accounted for the fact I was able to locate good quality groundwater sources right in the midst of numerous dry holes, and sometimes con- taminated wells, if indeed what I am able to sense are not “well-defined” satisfacto- ry groundwater sources, they have been at a loss for words. We now work with a growing number of wel l dri l l ing professionals, realtors, building contractors, private landowners, and clients within both the public and pri- vate sector. Our work is not only satisfy- ing, we get to meet some of the greatest people in the world as wel l. (No pun intended) The statements and comments in this article are based on information and refer- ences believed to be true and factual. If you have any questions or comments, please forward them to me in care of WWDR . Jim michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 33 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® SEPTEMBER 2017