© Michael Macor, The ChronicleWild Horse Creek which flows through Green Valley in Fairfield, Calif., suddenly flowing with water after the August 24, 2014 Napa earthquake.
Local residents noticed that some creeks, which had previously run dry due to the state's prolonged drought, were filled with water again.
The strange phenomenon occurred in Solano County's Green Valley, according to SFGate.com, and it's believed it was caused by groundwater that was forced up to the surface when the Earth jolted.
At first, water running through the drought area may seem like a good thing, but that may not be the case this time.
How It Happened
When an earthquake shakes the land and plates shift, fractures can form and groundwater can be squeezed through those gaps. It's similar to squeezing toothpaste out of the tube, U.S. Geological Survey geologist Tom Holzer told CBS San Francisco.
In fact, California records dating back to 1865 cite several instances when water suddenly appeared following an earthquake, according to the Santa Rose Press Democrat.
It was in that year that the streams rose in the Santa Cruz Mountains following a magnitude-6.5 temblor, the report added. Then, the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 brought about 23 billion gallons of groundwater to the surface, the Press Democrat also reported.
Recently, a lake appeared in Tunisia following an earthquake, providing another example of what could happen when there's groundwater underneath seismic activity.
Don't Drink That Water Just Yet
Water testing has revealed the water was definitely groundwater pushed up by the earthquake, according to the SFGate.com report.
Here's how they know: There are high levels of alkalinity in the water, and officials are still running tests to determine if it contains heavy metals, too. If confirmed, the water would likely be unsafe to drink.
But there are other issues with the situation, Tom Holzer of the USGS told SFGate.com.
"People who have wells in the area, particularly if they are shallow wells, could find their wells going dry. That actually happened in the Loma Prieta quake," he said.
Even though the flowing water has been a welcomed sight, it's unlikely to continue for too long, Holzer added. He expects the creeks to run dry yet again in a few weeks, because the supply of groundwater is limited and the water flow will decline over time.
That's bad news for a state that can't seem to catch a break with its water supply in 2014.
Before it's safe to drink, tons upon tons of toxic fluoride must be added.