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"The pointers are typically held in a position of unstable equilibrium, and, therefore, a small movement, such as an involuntary vibration in the user's arm, becomes amplified and causes the pointers to visibly move," explains Michael A. Easter, M.S.F.S., and Angi M. Christensen, Ph.D.
Groundwater can be found in most locations, so the success rate of water dowsers is somewhat predictable. “In a region of adequate rainfall and favorable geology, it is difficult not to drill and find water!," explains the U.S. Geological Survey.
The ideomotor effect is an involuntary movement caused by the subconscious mind. So, unconsciously, the dowser makes subtle movements that may appear to be the tool working on its own—very much like how Ouija boards work.
In 2007, it was found that 10 out of 12 water companies in the UK were using water dowsing. And as of 2023, it has been reported that Thames Water and Severn Trent Water currently use them to find leaks.
See also: Tricks psychics don't want you to know
Despite the practice being debunked as pseudoscience, water dowsers are still used to this day by numerous people and companies. After all, they do charge less than hydrogeologists.
While many dowsers were successful, the results have been criticized, mostly from a statistical perspective. "...the Munich experiments constitute as decisive and complete a failure as can be imagined of dowsers to do what they claim they can," said J.T. Enright of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
So, how do water dowsers explain the phenomenon? Some point to Earth's magnetism or the energy emanating from water (or whatever is being sought), which is picked up by the tool.
As for the pendulum, dowsers can use a technique that doesn’t even require them to leave home. They can simply hold it over a map, and it will circle or drop down in the spots where water can be found.
For dowsers using a traditional forked wand, the technique involves walking over an area holding the tool with palms facing up and the bottom branch facing up. The rod will then dip when it finds a water source.
Others have more of a psychic explanation for the activity. They claim to use their extrasensory ability to connect to the water below the ground.
You can easily make your own water dowsing tool. If you’re more of a traditionalist, finding a Y-shaped branch won’t be too difficult.
This technique is used to find the depth of the water. It supposedly starts to move, and how much it moves indicates how deep the water source is.
Though not all water witches use rods and sticks to find water. Some do so using a pendulum, which consists of a weight placed on a string or chain.
Wands, aka bobbing sticks, are also a popular choice. These are usually V- or Y-shaped tree branches. While the material of these is traditionally wood, there are also similar tools made of plastic and other materials.
If you want to give angle rods a go, then wire hangers are your best bet. You can use a straw or a pen casing to make a plastic or rubber tubing. This way, you can hold the rods and they can move.
So, what does the scientific community say about water witching? Well, so far, studies have not found any evidence of tools being affected by the presence of water.
In addition to the previously mentioned tools, scissors, pliers, and pencils can also be used for water dowsing. And, in fact, no tools at all. Some dowsers simply use their hands. These are nicknamed "hand tremblers."
Angle rods are the most popular choice when it comes to water witching tools. These two L-shaped rods of metal are held by the dowser, one in each hand.
There are many ancient examples of divination rods, from Hermes and Circe in Greek mythology, to the Scythians. Though water dowsing as we know it didn’t start featuring in literature until the 16th century.
The instrument used to dowse for water is often called a dowsing stick, a dowsing rod, or a divining rod. There are, however, other tools used for the effect (more on that later).
The practice of water witching goes way back—to at least 6000 BCE, which is the date of the cave paintings found in Tassili, Algeria, depicting the activity.
The method described in Agricola’s book is indeed very similar to the one used today: "...they wander hither and thither at random through mountainous regions. It is said that the moment they place their feet on a vein the twig immediately turns and twists, and so by its action discloses the vein; when they move their feet again and go away from that spot the twig becomes once more immobile."
Professor Hans-Dieter Betz of the University of Munich conducted a study in the late 1980s to attest to the legitimacy of water dowsing. The study involved 500 dowsers performing nearly 10,000 double blind trials detecting water pipes buried underground.
Dowsing has also been used to find buried bodies. This is called "grave witching."
It can be argued that water dowsing features in the Old Testament. We are specifically talking about how Moses uses his rod to get water in the desert.
The U.S. Geological Survey defines water dowsing, aka water witching, as the "practice of using a forked stick, rod, pendulum, or similar device to locate underground water, minerals, or other hidden or lost substances."
Water dowsing may be the most popular purpose, but the activity has been used for other reasons as well. An example includes dowsing for underground oil, aka "doodle bugging."
In his 1556 book De Re Metallica, German scholar and scientist Georgius Agricola explained a method for finding ore using forked hazel branches.
You may have never heard of it, but the history of water dowsing can be traced back thousands of years. In fact, the earliest known record of water witching dates back to 6000 BCE. But how reliable is this practice, and what does science say about it? Do dowsers actually find water, or has the activity been dismissed as pseudoscience with no scientific grounds?
In this gallery, we delve into the fascinating history of water dowsing, from its roots to the present day. Click on to learn more.
The bizarre history of water dowsing
Some big companies still use water witching to this day
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You may have never heard of it, but the history of water dowsing can be traced back thousands of years. In fact, the earliest known record of water witching dates back to 6000 BCE. But how reliable is this practice, and what does science say about it? Do dowsers actually find water, or has the activity been dismissed as pseudoscience with no scientific grounds?
In this gallery, we delve into the fascinating history of water dowsing, from its roots to the present day. Click on to learn more.