Groundwater Monitoring in Ontario Prepared by Sid Emami, Ph. D., P.Geo November 5, 2014 sidemami@yahoo.com

WATER CYCLE

What is Groundwater? Groundwater is the water contained within cracks, fractures of rocks and pore spaces of soil and sediment beneath the surface of the earth which act as giant sponges, and allows water to infiltrate and be collected underground.

Porosity and Permeability Porosity is: the percentage of the voids to the total volume of soil or rock. Permeability is: a characteristic that allows the water to flow through the rock. Porosity is an index of how much groundwater can be stored in a rock unit.

Porosity and Permeability cont..d High Porosity, High Permeability High Porosity, Low Permeability No porosity & permeability Low porosity & permeability

Saturated & unsaturated zones

Snow is a major contributor to GW Based in published reports, western snow packs have declined in recent decades: Warmer winters are reducing the amount of snow in the mountains Shrinking show packs and earlier snow melts mean that the drought is persistent in the area. Snow is a major contributor to GW

Why Groundwater is important?

Canadian Population depending on GW

What is an Aquifer? An aquifer is an underground layer of permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be extracted using a water well. AQUIFER AQUITARD

Movement of Groundwater

Source: M. Meriano, 1999 Source: M. Meriano, 1999

Type of Aquifers cont..d Unconfined Aquifers (bedrock, gravel & sand) Saturated zone is in open contact with atmospheric pressure Confined Aquifers (bedrock, gravel & sand) Saturated zone is separated from atmospheric pressure by impermeable layers Artesian Aquifers (saturated zone is under pressure)

Types of Aquifers

Oak Ridges Moraine 160 Km Length 1-15 Km Width 150m Depth

Ice Ages

160Km x 13Km x 0.15 Km. DW of 250,000 people 65 Rivers Oak Ridges Moraine 160Km x 13Km x 0.15 Km. DW of 250,000 people 65 Rivers

Pollution of Ground Water pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers: city dumps heavy metals such as Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd household chemicals and poisonsseptic tanks, sewage plants, and animal feedlots acid mine drainage radioactive waste de-icing road salt

Sources of GW contamination

Laws protecting GW in Ontario Several environmental laws exist to protect groundwater's in Ontario such as: Safe Drinking Water Act Ontario Water Resources Act 1990 Clean Water Act Source Water Protection Act

Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network

Background of GW monitoring In 1946 Observation well monitoring was initiated by Ontario Department of Mines. In 1977 the number of Observation wells were 80. In 1981 MOE monitored Observation well stations.

Background of GW monitoring cont..d In 1999 many parts of S. Ontario faced drought and low water conditions. In 2000, GW monitoring was established by MOE along with 36 CA & 10 municipalities.

How PGMN Wells were selected? Monitoring wells are selected based on the following criteria: Wells with suitable construction for GW sampling Wells tapping into the major aquifers Wells with good yield and productivity Wells located far from sources of contamination and Wells far from municipal production well GC = General Chemistry

Selected Major Aquifers in Ontario Major Aquifers are identified and selected using: MOE Water Well Records (Bedrock & OB >700,000 wells) Available Hydrogeological reports Existing wells permitted to be used by owners Geology of Ontario and Geographic Information System (GIS) GC = General Chemistry

Why we monitor Groundwater? To establish a base-line information in water level and chemistry To properly manage groundwater resources To forecast trends in water level/quality in future To provide early warning in drought condition due to climate change changes in quality due to land use activities

Example of Drought Conditions Impacted Groundwater Levels

Drought Condition 2001 is the drought year. 2001 Drought Condition

Declining Water Level due to pumping an irrigation well in Oregon USA

PGMN wells The total number of monitoring wells are 474 where: 474 wells are recorded in every hour for GW levels 360 wells are samples for water quality once per year 85 wells are recorded for precipitation data and 35 wells are recorded barometric pressure each hour GC = General Chemistry

Distribution of PGMN (Groundwater) Monitoring Wells 37

Water Level Monitoring Procedures Water Level Meter Manual Water Level Measurement

Data Loggers Levelogger & Barologger Leveloader 1,390,000 LTC readings, Levelogger & Barologger > 16000 LTC readings

Rain Gauge Solar Panel Green Box Control Box

Telemetry System

Sampling Groundwater for Chemical Analysis Purging Criteria: 1) Purge > 3 well volume, 2) parameters Stabilization, 3) minimal or zero draw down 4) collect samples Purging a Monitoring well with Rediflo-2 Pump

Monitoring Field Parameters followed by Groundwater Sampling

Post Sampling Procedures Shipping samples to a Lab Laboratory analysis Compiling collected data Assessment and interpretation of data Writing reports

Shipping & Handling

Lab Analysis General Chemistry, Metals, Volatile Organics, Pesticides, Phenolics

Compiling and interpreting data Sample collection using a bailer

Summary Monitoring of GW Constitutes a base line information on GW levels & chemistry Helps to manage and plan water resources Forecast the future trends of water levels and water quality Provides early warning in drought conditions due to climate changes and large water takings Provides warning on changes in water quality and its early remediation Provides information of water resources conditions due to land use activities.

PGMN Website Demonstration Nitrogen; nitrate+nitrite                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PGMN Website Demonstration http://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/provincial-groundwater-monitoring-network Nitrogen; nitrate+nitrite

Thank You Questions?