Water dowsing, or water locating, has been a subject of
discussion and controversy for hundreds, if not thousands, of
years. It is mentioned in the Bible — Moses struck a rock and
water gushed out.  Water exists under Earth's surface almost
everywhere. Dowsing involves the action of a person called a
dowser or water locator using a type of rod to locate
underground water.  The exact origin of water dowsing is not
known. It is believed to have been carried across the Atlantic
to America by some of the earliest settlers from England and
Germany.  Early pioneers used dowsing rods to find water on a
property. The availability of water determined where to build
the house and outbuildings. When wells were dug by hand in the
early days, it was imperative that settlers dug in the correct
location on the first try.  Water dowsers practiced mainly in
rural or suburban communities where residents were uncertain as
to how to locate the best and cheapest supply of groundwater.
Because the drilling and development of a wel