Alberta Groundwater Mapping and Inventory Program

Program Goals

• Describe the groundwater resource, identify critical knowledge gaps and fill them with new field investigations.
• Inventory the available resources and their uses.
• Describe the present state of resources and forecast potential threats and impacts on the quantity and quality of groundwater in Alberta.
• Provide information (maps, databases) to help well owners, operators, consultants, regulators, etc., quickly determine first-order groundwater-resource estimates in any area that may be available for allocation or re-allocation through permits or other regulatory/market mechanisms.

With the investment of $12.5 million over the next three years, and three new permanent groundwater experts, Alberta Environment and Alberta Geological Survey will have a much clearer picture of the state of groundwater in Alberta.

This joint, multi-year program builds on the success of past mapping programs and supports the key outcomes defined by the Water for Life strategy, including safe, secure drinking water supplies, healthy aquatic ecosystems and reliable, quality supplies for a sustainable economy.

By investing in groundwater mapping, the province will add to existing knowledge and enhance management of the province’s water resources. Groundwater is an integral part of the hydrological cycle and contributes to stream flows and lake levels; it is also an important drinking-water supply for approximately 600,000 Albertans.

Mapping is first targeted in high priority areas experiencing rapid growth, such as the Edmonton-Calgary Corridor. However, the aim of this multi-year program is to map groundwater resources of the entire province. To this end, Alberta Environment has created three new permanent positions for groundwater experts who will work in the Alberta Geological Survey office.

Additional groundwater activities at Alberta Geological Survey.