Regional Scale Groundwater Study
Renfrew County - Mississippi - Rideau
A groundwater study has recently been conducted. The goals of this work were to:
- develop a database and GIS as an aid to analysis, interpretation, and management
- undertake a regional water balance
- map aquifers locations, recharging/discharging areas, flow systems, and quality conditions
- assess surface water quality
- inventory groundwater users and assess the demand on aquifers
- map areas where aquifers are susceptible to contamination
- identify known and potential contaminant sources
- identify guidelines (all three levels of government) and regulations to protect groundwater
The study can be viewed from the following website,
www.mvc.on.ca/rmrgroundwaterstudy/index.html
With respect to the Tay River watershed, the following comments can be made:
- Precambrian rock is the main aquifer in the watershed, and vertical fractures predominate
- sedimentary rocks are more common in the east, with horizontal fractures and horizontal bedding planes
- Precambrian rock aquifers are more susceptible to potential contamination since the majority of the area has shallow (<2 m) overburden
- groundwater discharge (baseflow) provides most of the water to streams during the summer and winter months and, thus, has an important role in sustaining natural habitats
- esker-like overburden deposits in areas of high elevation may act as sources of groundwater recharge
- the most common water problems result from chloride and nitrate contamination
- 61% of Lanark County residents use groundwater for drinking, compared with 23% in the larger study area
- the total volume of groundwater taken (permits +) is less than 2% of what is potentially available from recharge
- known contaminant sources include petroleum products, chlorinated solvents, landfill leachate, and septic tanks
- provincial regulations at the present time do not provide clear authority for a municipality to control or protect groundwater
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