Canwell 2004
Overview of groundwater information
found on the Ministry of Water, Land and
Air Protection web site
By
Kevin Ronneseth
Water, Air, Climate Change Branch
Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
Kelowna, April 24, 2004
Outline
• BC’s groundwater web site
• Water well data (and data entry)
• Groundwater reference library
• Observation Well and Ambient
Groundwater Quality Monitoring networks
• Fact Sheets
• Aquifers and the Internet Mapping
Application
BC’s Groundwater Web Site Over View
• Provincial database initiated in the 1960’s
• Province started using the Web to display
groundwater information in the mid 1990’s
• The key web address to note is:
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wat/gws/gwis.ht
ml
• Today, Web strategy and e-government
are key service plan objectives of the
Province’s mandate
Water Well Data
• Water well data input
– Free software (well drilling data capture system) to
enter groundwater data into a database
• Water well data output
– Using word search criteria to access water well data
– Using maps to access water well data
Water Well Data Input
• The Well Drilling Data Capture System
– designed to provide drillers with a database that is
compatible with the Province’s database,
– developed with the cooperation and assistance of the
British Columbia Groundwater Association,
– drillers are able to organize and maintain their own
water well data, print out water well records for
customers and export data selected by the driller to
the WELL database.
The Well
Drilling
Data
Capture
System
Number of Wells on File
• To date, over 80,000 wells entered in
the Wells Data base
• ≈ 65,000 with a geographic location
• ≈ 1800 new wells drilled each year
How to Access the Water Well Data
Different types of word search criteria
are used to access water well data
– Well Tag Number,
– BCGS Number,
– Geo Reference (e.g. Street, Legal),
– BCGS Geographic Grid,
The BCGS Map Grid is used to Identify the
Area of Interest in the Province
Then further refine the search by identifying
the 1:20,000 map sheet (e.g. 82E.083)
Other Types of Geo-referencing Include:
Street Names and Legal Descriptions
Water Well Data Output
Water well data can be printed out in
the following formats:
– Summaries of well logs
– Detailed well logs
– Lithology of well logs
– Specialty outputs
Well Log Summary
Well Log Lithology
Detailed Well Log
Water Well Data Output by BCGS Number
Specialized output for Aquifer Classification Studies
Specialized Lithology Output for Aquifer
Vulnerability Studies
Water Well Data Output
Mapped Based
• Aquifer and water wells web site:
http://maps.gov.bc.ca/apps/wlap_aquifer/
Aquifers and Water Wells
Detailed Well Log
• Groundwater Reference
Library
Groundwater Reference Library
Example References
• Code of Practice for Construction, Testing, Maintenance and
Closure of Wells, BC
• Evaluating Long-Term Well Capacity for a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity
• Glossary of Hydrogeologic Terms
• Guide to using the Aquifer Classification Maps for the
Protection and Management of Groundwater in BC
• Framework for a Hydrogeologic Study in support of an
Application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate under
the Environmental Assessment Act and Regulations
• Unit Conversion Table
Groundwater Reference Library
• Groundwater Report NTS Filing System
– for listing of Groundwater Reports on File with
the Water, Air and Climate Change Branch in
Victoria.
• NTS.082, NTS.092, NTS.093, NTS.094
NTS.102, NTS.103, NTS.104
NTS Consultants Reports
Observation Well and
Ambient Groundwater Quality
Monitoring Networks
Observation Well and Ambient Groundwater
Quality Monitoring Networks
• Groundwater levels monitored by the Observation Well
Network (established in 1961).
• Many Observation Wells also periodically (every few
years) sampled for baseline water chemistry.
• Ambient groundwater quality monitored in developed,
highly vulnerable aquifers by the Ambient Groundwater
Quality Monitoring Network (initiated in 1986).
• Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection (Water, Air,
Climate Change Branch responsible for groundwater
monitoring in BC).
Observation Well Network
• Since 1960, 350 observation wells have been
established. Today, there are 163 active observation
wells in the Network; some Observation Wells have
close to 50 years of record.
• Observation Wells classified into three categories:
– Monitoring groundwater levels in developed aquifers,
– Specific engineering and research projects, and
– Monitoring for forecasting and baseline data.
Observation Well Network:
Distribution
•Most Observation Wells
located in the southern half
of BC, in major
groundwater regions.
•3/4 monitor sand and
gravel aquifers; 1/4 monitor
bedrock aquifers.
•Typically establish 1- 3
new Observation Wells per
year.
•Policy to establish an
Observation Well in all “IA”
aquifers.
Observation Well Network:
Data collection
•
2/3 of the Observation Wells are equipped with recorders; 1/3 of are
manually read on a monthly basis.
•
Currently converting Stevens F68 recorders to Thalimedes data
loggers; storage of data in the Ministry’s WIDM database.
•
Historic chart data in hard copy format.
•
Historic charts for 26 Observation Wells have been digitized by
Environment Canada in 2002.
•
All month-end reading (recorders and manual) are entered into Excel.
•
Data from Observation Wells reported in numerous ways
Data from Obs Wells are used to Characterize
Groundwater Conditions in British Columbia
Observation Well Data are Reported in the
Provincial Snow Survey Bulletin
•10 Key Observation
Wells reported
regularly in the Snow
Survey Bulletin for
flood and drought
forecasting.
•Web site:
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.
ca/rfc/river_forecast/b
ulletin.htm
Reporting of Observation Well data:
Snow Survey Bulletin (continued)
Observation Well No. 2
Abbotsford-Sumas Aquifer
Observation Well Data are Reporting in the
Province’s State Of Environment Reports
Status and Trends in Groundwater Supply:
(http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/soerpt/7groundwater/wellsglance.html)
100%
90%
% wells reflecting natural
seasonal fluctuations
80%
70%
%
60%
% wells reflecting human
impacts
50%
40%
% wells reflecting human
impacts & with declining
trends
30%
20%
10%
0%
19651970
19701975
19751980
19801985
19851990
5-year period
19901995
19952000
Access to Month-end Data
• View hydrographs on
the web.
• Download month-end
groundwater level
data from web.
• Web site:
http://wlapwww.gov.b
c.ca/wat/gws/obswell/
wellindex.html
Monitoring
groundwater
levels has
identified extent
of temporal and
spatial declining
regional
groundwater
levels in the
Lower Fraser
Valley
Monitoring groundwater
levels has allowed a
better understanding of
pumping behaviour in
sand and gravel as well as
fractured bedrock
aquifers, to allow
development of provincial
well testing guidelines
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wat/gws
/gwdocs/eval_well/toc.html
Ambient Groundwater Quality Monitoring
in British Columbia: Objectives
• Examine groundwater quality concerns in
the province and monitor trends with time.
• Groundwater Quality Concerns in BC :
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Nitrates and phosphates
Synthetic organic compounds including pesticides
Coliform bacteria
Heavy metals
Hydrocarbons including gasoline
Landfill leachate
Saltwater including seawater intrusion
Regional Water Quality Issues and Areas
• VANCOUVER ISLAND - saltwater, fluoride,
hydrogen sulphide, bacteria
• LOWER MAINLAND - nitrates, saltwater, fluoride
• KOOTENAY- heavy metals, sulphate
• NORTHERN BC - arsenic, radioactivity
• SOUTERN INTERIOR - nitrates, fluoride, arsenic,
sulphate, uranium, mercury
Criteria for Selecting Areas for
Ambient Water Quality Monitoring
•
•
•
•
•
Groundwater used as water supply.
Areas with large community wells.
Large amounts of groundwater extraction.
Significant land use activities.
Shallow water table aquifers vulnerable to
contamination.
• Alternative water sources not readily available.
• Groundwater contamination discharging to surface
water.
Monitoring and Survey Areas Prior to 2002
AGWM location
Identify
Patterns of
Concern
(NO3-N, NaCl)
Surveyed area
Oliver
Armstrong
Keremeos
Grand
Forks
Merritt
Osoyoos
Cowichan Estuary
Lower Fraser Valley
Monitoring of ambient groundwater quality has
identified significant water quality trends
15
NO3-N versus time, Site A 100-foot monitoring well, Grand Forks, BC
Drinking guideline
= 10 mg/L NO3-N
5
Date
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
0
1990
NO3-N (mg/L)
10
Monitoring of ambient groundwater quality has
allowed better understanding of the occurrence
and distribution of NO3-N in this aquifer
NO3-N distribution
in the Grand Forks Aquifer
NO3-N > 30 mg/L
NO3-N > 10 - 30 mg/L
NO3-N = 3 – 10 mg/L
NO3-N < 3 mg/L
Current enhancement of the Ambient Groundwater
Monitoring Network : Expanding to all IA Aquifers *
• In 2002, increase existing AGWQM Network from Lower
Fraser Valley, Osoyoos and Grand Forks to other parts
of BC.
• Use BC Aquifer Classification System to identify high
priority aquifers; expand AGWQM Network to all IA
aquifers.
• Establish a handful of monitoring sites in each IA
aquifer.
* for information on IA aquifers and the BC Aquifer
Classification System, see:
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wat/aquifers/index.html
Access and Reporting of Ambient
Groundwater Quality Monitoring Data
• Technical reports and conference papers
• Development of water reporting strategy
• Water Quality Trends in Selected British Columbia Waterbodies
Development of
restricted web
access to EMS
Summary of Well Monitoring Networks
• Groundwater level monitoring – Observation Well
Network.
• Groundwater quality monitoring – Ambient
Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network.
• Importance of networks in understanding human and
natural impacts on aquifers and developing policies
to manage and protect them.
• Issues: data assurance, storage, access and analysis
and reporting; new business needs, staff training.
Groundwater Quality Fact Sheets
• There are seven fact sheets that provide
general groundwater quality information on:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
total and fecal coliform bacteria;
nitrate;
arsenic;
fluoride;
sodium;
iron and manganese; and
hardness.
Location of Groundwater Quality Fact Sheets
Contents of the Nitrate Fact Sheet
•
•
•
•
What is nitrate?
What are the known sources of nitrate?
What are the environmental health concerns?
Where have high nitrate levels been found in BC
well water?
• What can well owners and water purveyors do
about nitrate contamination of well water?
• Well water testing and source protection, and
• Other government information sources on
Nitrates.
Example of a Groundwater Quality Fact Sheet
Aquifers and the
Internet Mapping Application
• BC’s Aquifer Classification Mapping
Program was developed in 1994,
• Search for aquifers by using aquifer
characteristics developed,
• Gif. files of individual aquifers
established,
• Aquifers available in an internet map
based format in 2002
BC’s Aquifers Classification
Mapping System
• Turn data into information for decision
makers to use
• Build an inventory of aquifers in BC
• Develop map-based products so others can
“see” aquifers
• Use the information to assist in management
and protection of the resource
BC Aquifer Classification System
Level
Level of
of
Vulnerability
Vulnerability
Classification
Component
Aquifer
Classification
System
Level of
Development
Ranking
Component
Inventory
of
Aquifers
Classification Component
Level of
Vulnerability
Level of Development
I
II
III
A
IA - heavily developed;
high vulnerability
IIA - moderately
developed; high
vulnerability
IIIA - lightly
developed; high
vulnerability
B
IB - heavily developed;
moderate vulnerability
IIB - moderately
developed; moderate
vulnerability
IIIB - lightly
developed; moderate
vulnerability
C
IC - heavily developed;
low vulnerability
IIC - moderately
developed; low
vulnerability
IIIC - lightly
developed; low
vulnerability
Ranking Value Component
1
2
3
Productivity
low
moderate
high
Vulnerability
low
moderate
high
Size
< 5 Km2
5 – 25 Km2
> 25 Km2
Demand
low
moderate
high
Type of Use
non-drinking water drinking water multiple
Quality Concerns
isolated
local
regional
Quantity Concerns isolated
local
regional
Example Applications of
Aquifer Classification System
• As a local government, where should we
be most careful to ensure rural
development and use of septic systems
do not impact groundwater quality?
• As a health official, which areas are most
susceptible to nitrate contamination in
groundwater used for drinking water?
• As a home owner, can I develop a well
water supply?
What the Aquifer Classification
System does not do
• Does not provide specific information about
groundwater availability, direction or rate of flow
nor aquifer capacity
• Does not show variability of properties across an
aquifer (e.g., productivity, vulnerability)
• Does not reveal interactions with surface water
• Does not show trends over time (static)
Status of Aquifer Mapping
• 608 aquifers currently completed
• Approximately 660 aquifers by the
Summer of 2004
Status
Of
Aquifer
Mapping
Mapping
the Aquifers
around the
Chemainus
River
Guide to Using the BC Aquifer
Classification Maps
• Assist people in
interpreting and using the
maps,
• Explains the System,
• Discusses assumptions
underlying its design, the
interpretation of the info.
presented, and the
appropriate use of the
maps.
Main Aquifer Web Page
Web Page for Conducting Aquifer Enquiries
Web Page for Displaying a Graphic file of an Aquifers
Example
of
Bedrock
Aquifer
#124 .gif
file
Web Page for the Internet Aquifer Mapping WEB
Site
Future Mapping on this Internet Site will Include
Aquifer Characterization Maps (e.g. the occurrence and
distribution of NO3-N in the Grand Forks Aquifers
NO3-N distribution
in the Grand Forks Aquifer
NO3-N > 30 mg/L
NO3-N > 10 - 30 mg/L
NO3-N = 3 – 10 mg/L
NO3-N < 3 mg/L
Future Mapping on this Internet Site will Include Cross
Sections and other Information for Specific Aquifers
Summary
• The provincial web sites will increasingly
become a valuable source for more
groundwater information;
• More of the existing groundwater data will
become groundwater information and posted
on the provincial web sites;
• The provincial web sites are to become more
user friendly.