The miners didn't know. New Almaden Quicksilver Mine adds mercury to the flow. It's very sad to see. The river once so rich with life, no good for you and me. The water in the river bed flows to Alviso slough.
Some water is diverted to a perc pond or two.
In all, the water percolates down into the ground. The aquifer is waiting for any water that is found. An aquifer is pebbles, mostly gravel, rocks and sand. The aquifer that's centered throughout our valley floor Is formed in three sub basins, don't you try to count to four. Santa Clara and Coyote, and Llagas, that makes three.