In 1914 a farmer dug a well here, but it went dry during the drought of the 1930s. In 1938, a road crew nicked a pipe from the well. It started flowing again and has ever since. The bubbling spout of water was named after the local ghost town of Dickinson.
THIS SPRING HAS BEEN SEALED. NO LONGER USABLE. It froze during the winter of 2018 and the pipe broke. After much discussion over which entity had jurisdiction over it, and therefore financial responsibility for it, the state chose to seal it off due to the cost of bringing the site up to current state standards of a wayside rest stop.
Water was clear and clean today. Will do water tests and post them soon. Directions: Hi way 55 between Dague Ave S.E./Cty 14 and Deadrick Ave. S.E. GPS: N 45.121146° by W 93.81375°
I did check this spring out last fall. It was running. I was disappointed that the water was so rusty. The article said the water was clear. You can filter it though. It is better than all the chlorine in city water.
Is this well up and running – I heard about findaspring.org on the Ellen Degeneres show last week from an actress and am interested in checking this out. Thanks.
Drove by it today, 12/18/18, and a crew was working on it, backhoes digging. Then, later in the day, it was all the same? Looks like they dug up some pipes? Are they fixing it or just capping it off for good? Anyone have an update?
Went to the spring about 2 weeks ago and it was closed. There was a tab with a web address but when you go to it there was no information as to why it was closed.
I stopped by by in May 2018, but the pipe that normally has the water coming out was missing. There was a note that says MnDOT technically owns that property. Please go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com for more information and sign the petition.
Dickinson Spring suddenly quit running in January, 2018. There is at least one petition going to ensure the reason is scientifically researched, and hopefully turned back on.
I stop here monthly to fill my four 5 gallon glass bottles. Today it was not running. In the many many years I have lived in this area, I have never know this water to STOP flowing. Was just here last month with no issues, anyone know the reason for this??
We have been getting water from this spring for the last 2 years. Husband went tonight and there was no water running 🙁 First time to my knowlegde. Hoping pipe is frozen and it will thaw enough over the next few days to start running again.
We have gotten water from this source twice and it’s great. I bought a text kit from Wal-mart and it tested negative for pesticides, bacteria and lead. 0 for nitrates and nitrites. pH was 8.5, hardness 250, 0 for chlorine.
Looks like the well has been capped by MNDOT. After they made a large paved parking lot next to the spring.
Seems the well had stopped because of old pipes?? Should have fixed it after spending so much on the parking lot.
Stopped by there on our way back from Illinois to get the water. The handle part that pumps was missing. Could not get any. Contacted the Township and they said they would look into it. So disappointed!
Been drinking water from here for a few weeks now. My children love it! Anyone happen to have any recent test results or know where I could find them. Figure it would be a good idea to make sure it is safe drinking water since I’m feeding it to my kids… It sure tastes great
6/22/2014 i went to the spring today to fill some gallon jugs and found the water flowing at a good rate, ice cold, pretty clear, and to my surprise a very strong rotten egg/sulfur odor? not sure if this may be due to the record rainfall we have had this last month? gonna wait till the smell is gone.
Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.
The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.
FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.
Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.
Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug
When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.
When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.
How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.
How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.
I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.
Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.
Written by Dakota Chanel. Water Priestess and Ceremonialist. DakotaChanel.com
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Dickinson Spring Artesian Well, Rockford, MN
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THIS SPRING HAS BEEN SEALED. NO LONGER USABLE. It froze during the winter of 2018 and the pipe broke. After much discussion over which entity had jurisdiction over it, and therefore financial responsibility for it, the state chose to seal it off due to the cost of bringing the site up to current state standards of a wayside rest stop.
What a crock of crap…they would rather us drinking fluoridated water to unexpectedly dumb us all down
Water was clear and clean today. Will do water tests and post them soon. Directions: Hi way 55 between Dague Ave S.E./Cty 14 and Deadrick Ave. S.E. GPS: N 45.121146° by W 93.81375°
I did check this spring out last fall. It was running. I was disappointed that the water was so rusty. The article said the water was clear. You can filter it though. It is better than all the chlorine in city water.
4/24/12 pH 7.3 TDS 250 Nitrate 0
Is this well up and running – I heard about findaspring.org on the Ellen Degeneres show last week from an actress and am interested in checking this out. Thanks.
~ Kerri Nelson, St. Anthony Village, MN
Please let us know when it is running again.
January 25, 2011. The well is currently disabled and has been for several days. Hopefully there are plans to get it up and running again soon.
I grew up in this area and the well water we had is was the best.
Is this well closed
yes.
Stopped for a drink a month or so ago…and the spring was capped!! Bummer…miss that icy-cold water!
Drove by it today, 12/18/18, and a crew was working on it, backhoes digging. Then, later in the day, it was all the same? Looks like they dug up some pipes? Are they fixing it or just capping it off for good? Anyone have an update?
This is closed.
Went to the spring about 2 weeks ago and it was closed. There was a tab with a web address but when you go to it there was no information as to why it was closed.
I stopped by by in May 2018, but the pipe that normally has the water coming out was missing. There was a note that says MnDOT technically owns that property. Please go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com for more information and sign the petition.
the water has stopped. the well needs to be repaired. local people are trying to get the county or state to fix it. 5/24/18
Why is the well closed?
HOW COME THE WATER ISN’T RUNNING??
Dickinson Spring suddenly quit running in January, 2018. There is at least one petition going to ensure the reason is scientifically researched, and hopefully turned back on.
Anyone know if the Dickinson spring water is running yet??? It has not been working for a few months.
Checked out the spring on 4-21-18 – warm day, no flow whatsoever. 🙁
Not flowing today 3/22/2018
Stopped by Sunday the 18th, 2018 and it was not flowing
No water flowing today.
Anyone know why water not flowing? Jan 2018
The spring has not been running for at least a month; as we have been out to get water as recent as today. does anyone know why?
I stop here monthly to fill my four 5 gallon glass bottles. Today it was not running. In the many many years I have lived in this area, I have never know this water to STOP flowing. Was just here last month with no issues, anyone know the reason for this??
Water was not running on 1-9-18. When will it start flowing again. Water is much better than our Plymouth.MN water
I was at the well 1-8 -18. It was not running. When will it start running again
It was dry last night. In 10 years of going there at least once a week, I have never seen it not flowing. Did a pipe break?
Went there today, January 9 2019, and the spring is not flowing.
We have been getting water from this spring for the last 2 years. Husband went tonight and there was no water running 🙁 First time to my knowlegde. Hoping pipe is frozen and it will thaw enough over the next few days to start running again.
We have gotten water from this source twice and it’s great. I bought a text kit from Wal-mart and it tested negative for pesticides, bacteria and lead. 0 for nitrates and nitrites. pH was 8.5, hardness 250, 0 for chlorine.
One of my patients does water testing for a living and said this is very safe water
went there today 6-7-2017 the spring was running fast and clear. and the water had a slight rust taste to it . but it still is better than city water
Looks like the well has been capped by MNDOT. After they made a large paved parking lot next to the spring.
Seems the well had stopped because of old pipes?? Should have fixed it after spending so much on the parking lot.
The well looks like it has been capped by MNDOT. Nice brand new parking lot thou. Should have fixed the well.
Do you want the exact address for the well, here it’s. 45°07’16.1″n 93°48’49.5″w All you have do is, copy it, and paste to your GPS.
Does anyone drink or have had the water tested lately?
Just filled two 5G jugs today. Fast flow, clear, smell of sulpher. Going to drink it anyway as my tap water smells worse of chlorine!
Moved in the area in 1992, it has alwAys smelled like sulphur
Stopped by there on our way back from Illinois to get the water. The handle part that pumps was missing. Could not get any. Contacted the Township and they said they would look into it. So disappointed!
Been drinking water from here for a few weeks now. My children love it! Anyone happen to have any recent test results or know where I could find them. Figure it would be a good idea to make sure it is safe drinking water since I’m feeding it to my kids… It sure tastes great
6/22/2014 i went to the spring today to fill some gallon jugs and found the water flowing at a good rate, ice cold, pretty clear, and to my surprise a very strong rotten egg/sulfur odor? not sure if this may be due to the record rainfall we have had this last month? gonna wait till the smell is gone.