California subdivision mysyeriously sinks away . pictures

[Igel]

18. Geology doesn't need fracking.

A small subsidence a mile away can fracture a layer of rock above subsurface water that's under pressure. Or subsidence can close off the water's old drainage route, forcing it to find another way down the slope or out to the surface.

The change may have happened quite a few months ago, and the water that's been plaguing this subdivision for a couple of months may have fallen as rain last fall. Or may have been trapped underground for the last century.

The change may have been natural. It's possible it's due to human activity. It's possible that somebody stopped harvesting well water and the area's returning to normal. Or perhaps humans did something 20 years ago that impeded the effect of a geologic change that happened 10 years ago until now.

Some geologist will come up with a plausible scenario based on the details of the area, everybody will say, "Yes, that's likely" and it'll be reported as the actual reason. We'll be satisfied with our absolute not-quite-truth and move on to something else that really doesn't matter.