The historic artesian water springs

The spring at Zgody Square is a public one.

The name of artesian water comes from the name of the village in France - Artois, where spontaneous outflow of water was found for the first time, and where the first well with such water was build (in the twelfth century). Such waters are at hydrostatic pressure, and their autonomous outflow is due to the drilling of rocks that cover them. This spontaneous outflow is called an artesian spring.

In the area demarcated by the villages of Prostynia, Żółwino, Święciechów, Barnimie and Konotop, there is a moraine ‘island’ with the length of approx. 20 km and the width of 2 to 4 km. This moraine stretches from the north-east to the south-west. It divides the area into two parts. The first one is north of Drawno and its average altitude is approx. 100 m above sea level. Its highest point is Mount Szpaka (together with a watchtower of the Drawno Forest District). In turn, the place where the Drawa flows into Lake Adamowo, is at the altitude of approx. 77.3 m above sea level. The region between the area situated to the north and Drawno was formed during the ice age from 20 000 BC to 10 000 BC, and clay layers as thick as approx. 25 m can be found there. In that place rainwater accumulates, which, due to a natural slope to the south, are pressed between gravel layer.

The well reaches the level of the aquifer which is between impermeable layers. The principle of communicating vessels is applied here. That is why, water in the aquifer, due to water pressing from the higher level is at pressure; and, therefore, autonomously flows outside the wellbore.

Artesian springs are great wealth and makes life in the town easier. It is a well known fact that one of the companies producing garden gnomes in Drawno had its own artesian well which provided water for the company, local residents and flora.

Drawno has several such springs, but their water is not drinkable. The notices on the wells inform us about that fact.