Geoscience Canada

Volume 9, Number 1 (1982)
Applied Quaternary Geology Symposium

Groundwater Supplies for Waterloo Region — The Role of Geology

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  • R. N. Farvolden
R. N. Farvolden
Department of Earth Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario.

Published 1982-03-03

How to Cite

Farvolden, R. N. (1982). Groundwater Supplies for Waterloo Region — The Role of Geology. Geoscience Canada, 9(1). Retrieved from https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/GC/article/view/3290
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Abstract

The municipal water supply for the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambhdge region of Ontario is provided by wells in Quaternary gravels. There is justified concern that future needs cannot be provided for unless a new source is found. The favoured solution is a pipeline to Lake Erie at a very high cost ($150 million in the early 70s). Many informed geologists and engineers believe that additional groundwater supplies are available, and perhaps sufficient to meet the forecast demands. The key factor in a technical solution to the problem is better data on the Quaternary stratigraphy. Funds have not been made available for basic stratigraphic studies using modern techniques and as a consequence hydro-geology cannot be used effectively in dealing with the problem. The inadequacy of geologic data is not limited to this region. Basic geologic mapping is lacking generally for assessment development and protection of our groundwater resources, and somehow we have to convince government officials and funding agencies that it will pay to correct this deficiency.
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