One explanation that I found was rainfall but it is not apparent that rainfall could contribute to such volume of water.
In: Geology
They’re connected to aquifers and when it rains the water is pushed up out of the cracks which bubble up to the surface of the planet to make room for more water from when it rains.
As rainwater falls and absorbs into the ground it is purified when it hits gravel in the ground down to microscopic size so by the time it gets into your well, you water is clean. Solid wastes are broken down by worms and other beneficial bacteria in the soil.
If part of the aquifer is near the surface of a creek bed, the water comes out to feed the streams. It’s a more shallow aquifer since it’s close to the surface. It feels like a low pressure jet of water that bubbles.
The springs are cold because under the soil it gets cold really fast about 300 feet down it can be 50 degrees year round but the water will never freeze usually due to this above freezing temp all year round.
So if you see a spring fed creek and it’s hot out, don’t jump in right away or youll be shivering really quick. The water is so cold it’s like a chilled soda almost. Trout and salmon love the deep parts of a stream where the water is clear fed from a spring. .
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