Groundwater resources

As shown on the map "Natural Resources - Cold River Watershed", another economically significant result of the presence of Glacial Lake Hitchcock and the valley melt waters was the formation of stratified-drift aquifers. Stratified-drift aquifers consist of sorted sands and gravels deposited by glacial melt water. The large pore spaces permit these deposits to store and transmit groundwater readily. A series of stratified drift aquifers follows the Cold River corridor starting with a massive deposit along the Connecticut River in Walpole and stretching all the way to the village in Alstead. 

Other areas with aquifers with potential for municipal use are found in Langdon just upstream from Alstead, downstream from South Acworth where Great Brook joins the Cold, in South Acworth, upstream where Honey Brook joins the Cold and stretching along the River from East Acworth into Lempster. Although most of the Cold River valley aquifers have relatively low transmissivities, less than 1,000 square feet per day, they are nonetheless important as sources for existing individual private wells and potential future sources of small community water supplies.