On Parched Farms, Using Intuition to Find Water

By JESSE McKINLEY
Scientists pooh-pooh “water witches,” who claim to know where to drill for water, but the dowsers are in demand.

WATERFORD, Calif. — Phil Stine is not crazy, or possessed, or even that special, he says. He has no idea how he does what he does. From most accounts, he does it very well.

“Phil finds the water,” said Frank Assali, an almond farmer and convert. “No doubt about it.”

Mr. Stine, you see, is a “water witch,” one of a small band of believers for whom the ancient art of dowsing is alive and well.

[Remainder of article at link in title.]