Iowa city cites 74M-year-ago meteor for well woes
The small central Iowa city of Manson is having a big problem drilling a new well, and the reason could date back millions of years.
The Fort Dodge Messenger reports Manson is trying for a fourth time to drill a well after three failed attempts.
The difficulty apparently is due to a meteor that struck an estimated 74 million years ago, creating what's known as the Manson impact crater. There is no evidence of the meteor on the surface, but remnants remain under ground, complicating well drilling.
After an inability to tap a new steady supply of water, the city hired Aquetech Innovation, a Fort Dodge company that uses satellite imagery to find water.
Mayor Dave George says it should be clear by Wednesday if current drilling has succeeded.
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