Groundwater

Groundwater is a hidden resource we depend on for our drinking water. Where you are standing right now, there could be groundwater underneath you. It might take some digging to get to it, but it's there. You can find groundwater in an aquifer, layers of sand, rock and gravel. Groundwater is the rain or melted snow that soaks into the ground and moves ever so slowly - about a few metres every year - through the spaces between sand grains, rock or gravel.

Groundwater is our drinking water

• Everyday we supply our community with about 100 million litres of groundwater
• We operate 100+ municipal wells throughout Waterloo Region to collect the groundwater
• If you live on a farm or in a rural area, you probably have your own well. Private wells are the responsibility of the well owner.
• Region of Waterloo municipal wells are about 30 to 90 metres deep and can pump from 2 to 100 litres of groundwater every second
• We treat and test the groundwater
• Groundwater travels through underground pipes to buildings connected to the municipal supply

Groundwater is worth protecting

• Fix leaky water fixtures such as toilet flappers and faucets
• Understand how your behaviour increases water use (e.g. shower length)
• Switch to water-efficient fixtures and appliances
• In the winter, shovel the snow and spread less salt
• In your home, set your water softener to the water hardness in your area using our maps
• Report chemical spills to the Region of Waterloo

What we are doing to protect groundwater

• Monitoring water quality of drinking water sources
• Supporting youth education through our water education program and the Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival
• Working with businesses to improve beneficial practices to protect water quality through Source Water Protection Plan policies
• Supporting the Smart About Salt Council and other programs to reduce salt impacts to groundwater

Resources and activities

• Educational resources for teachers and students
• Blog: I Am Groundwater
• Infographic: groundwater aquifer
• Infographic: journey of water to your tap and back
• Story - video (8:50m): Wally and Deanna's Groundwater Adventure (University of Waterloo)
• YouTube video playlist: learn about groundwater  (Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival)