Rivière du Nord

Hydrogeological Context

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Version Metadata
1448b4e3-c71c-43e4-97d8-a4d2d6d99037
Project
Mirabel (AFSOQ)

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Rivière du Nord unit description

Update:2014-01-22
The topography of the North River valley is characterized by fluvial terraces and some hills in the southern part. The valley has two main interconnected aquifers: bedrock aquifer and the outwash cone aquifer. The bedrock aquifer is mainly composed of sandstone, dolomite and some limestone. It expends on the entire sector. Water flows through rock fractures. The outwash cones aquifer overlies the bedrock aquifer. It is made of glaciofluvial and proglacial sediments. These two aquifers are covered by a discontinuous till layer and a clay unit, causing confined conditions. These conditions generate low groundwater resource vulnerability. However, there are some local salinity problems that create high sodium and chloride concentrations. Fluvial, marine and other sediments that overlie the clay unit form small unconfined perched aquifer. The sediments are directly in contact with the bedrock where the clay is absent and form recharge areas, which are more vulnerable. Regionally, groundwater flows from south to north, starting from the hills into the river.
Physiography
Hydrogeological regionSt. Lawrence Platform
Hydrogeological context
ReliefThe North River sector is characterized by an ascending topography from north to south, passing from 55-64 m at the river to 95-110 m on the hills. South of the river, there is a succession of two ancient fluvial terraces, increasing the ground elevation of ten meters each. In the eastern part, altitude reaches 95-110 m on Chatam hills. These altitudes are also found on some hills located at the southern border of the sector.
Area210.00 km2
Lithology
DescriptionIn ascending order, the geological units are: 1) sandstone (Covey Hill and Cairnside formations) and 2) dolomite and limestone (Theresa, Beauharnois and Carillon formations). The sector has some discontinuities. The Beauharnois and Carillon formations are absent from the center of the sector and the dolomite and limestone formations are absent from the easthern part of the sector. A thin discontinuous layer of till overlies on the bedrock. This layer is overlain by a clay unit. These two units are discontinuous. Some glaciofluvial sediment intrusions are observed under the clay unit on the North River. On top of the clay layer, there are different sediment deposits such as marine, fluvial and other sediments. Those deposits are sporadic.
Source
Aquifer
AquifersList of aquifers bedrock aquifer outwash cones aquifer perched/superficial aquifer On the river banks and river bed, the sedimentary aquifers connected to the bedrock aquifer where the clay is absent.

Unit properties

Surficial aquifer media
Typical value:porous
Description The fluvial and coastal sediments form small discontinuous aquifers, which are perched if they aren't in direct contact with the bedrock aquifer.
Source Canadian Inventory of Groundwater Resources: Integrated regional hydrogeological characterization of the fractured aquifer system of southwestern Quebec
Bedrock aquifer media
Typical value:fractured
Description Regionally, the bedrock aquifer has 2 hydrogeological units. From the top to the base: 1- Highly fractured Paleozoic rocks and Quaternary glaciofluvial sediments (the sediments overlie the bedrock) 2- fractured Paleozoic rocks Regarding the first unit, the highly fractured Paleozoic rocks are absent of the easthern sector.
Source Canadian Inventory of Groundwater Resources: Integrated regional hydrogeological characterization of the fractured aquifer system of southwestern Quebec
Confinement
Typical value:confined - unconfined
Description The sector is covered with till layer and clay unit. Some fluvial, marine and eolian deposits overlie by the clay unit, forming unconfined conditions.
Source Canadian Inventory of Groundwater Resources: Integrated regional hydrogeological characterization of the fractured aquifer system of southwestern Quebec
Surficial sediment thickness
14.72 m Range: [0 to 80] m
Description Alluvial, eolian, coastal and marine sediments
Source Canadian Inventory of Groundwater Resources: Integrated regional hydrogeological characterization of the fractured aquifer system of southwestern Quebec
Hydrogeological unit thickness
100 m
Description Regionally, a thickness of 100 m, including glaciofuvial sediments included in the highly fractured rock unit is considered for bedrock aquifer. This portion of the aquifer accounts for most of the flow, however water is present at greater depths.
Source Canadian Inventory of Groundwater Resources: Integrated regional hydrogeological characterization of the fractured aquifer system of southwestern Quebec
Well depth
30.5 m Range: [0.6 to 138.4] m
Groundwater depth
4.27 m Range: [-2 to 20.46] m
Bedrock hydraulic conductivity
Description For each hydrogeological unit for the regional bedrock aquifer: 1- Highly fractured Paleozoic rock and Quaternary glaciofluvial sediments: K = 7.81E-4 m/s 2- Fractured Paleozoic rock: Kmin 2.7E-11 m/s; Kmax 7.9E-3 m/s; Kmean 2.7E-5 m/s Hydraulic conductivity decreases with the depth.
Source Canadian Inventory of Groundwater Resources: Integrated regional hydrogeological characterization of the fractured aquifer system of southwestern Quebec
Methode Estimation on the basis of in situ permeability tests, Lungeon constant-head injection tests, specific-capacity tests and pumping tests with and without observation wells.
Regional recharge
33 mm/y Range: [0 to 203] mm/y
Regional discharge
Description For the bedrock aquifer: North River
Source Canadian Inventory of Groundwater Resources: Integrated regional hydrogeological characterization of the fractured aquifer system of southwestern Quebec
Aquifer vulnerability
116.14 Range: [76 to 155.28]
Groundwater Quality
Typical value:saline - fresh
Description The dominant water type is Na-HCO3, excess fluoride is sometimes a problem. This sector is characterized by moderately frequent exceedeances of aesthetic objectives for iron and sulphide. Local salinity problems are observed, resulting in exceedances of aesthetic criteria for sodium and chloride.
Source Canadian Inventory of Groundwater Resources: Integrated regional hydrogeological characterization of the fractured aquifer system of southwestern Quebec
Methode Water sampling and analysis