Science: Why Dowsing Works

People with an unsatisfied will-to-believe have been getting solace from Novelist Kenneth Roberts’ Henry Gross and His Dowsing Rod. It tells with plenty of “evidence” how a good old state of Maine character, Henry Gross, finds “veins of water” by means of his good old divining rod.† In the latest issue of Harper’s magazine, which likes to publicize pseudo-scientific fancies (e.g., Eric Larrabee’s piece on the passing planets), and also to knock them down, waterworks Engineer Thomas M. Riddick gives an engineer’s explanation of water dowsing.

In places where dowsers thrive, says Riddick, there is water almost everywhere. It does not exist as “veins” but in saturated sand or gravel called the “water table.” Certain special conditions, such as sand so fine that it cannot be filtered, or hard rock near the surface, make well-digging undesirable. A dowser who is worth his salt can avoid such hostile spots without magical assistance. Anywhere else, he is almost sure to find at least a little water.

Engineer Riddick wastes little time on Henry’s theory that water rises from great depths underground and distributes itself in veins (it actually comes from rain, streams, etc.), but he hopes that people will not put too much faith in shallow, dowser-found wells. Heavy pumping can drain them dry when most needed, he warns, and many are contaminated.

† Unlike some temperamental dowsers who use only hazel sticks, Henry says he can work with any kind of forked stick, with grass, wire, or even old corset stays.