Metadata: Maritimes Groundwater Initiative (MGWI) project

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Identification

Abstract

This progress report describes the results of the work performed by the Geological Survey of Canada as part of the Maritimes Groundwater Initiative (MGWI) project, which began in 2000. The study area is located in the Maritimes Basin, where some of the most productive aquifers in Canada may be found. It covers approximately 27 000 km², of which 15 000 km² consist of Carboniferous rocks, and includes parts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The sedimentary bedrock is composed of a sequence of discontinuous strata of variable permeability (mostly sandstone, siltstone, claystone, shale and conglomerate). Layer transmissivities are closely related to presence or absence of fractures. The bedrock is generally overlain by a thin layer of glacial till. Groundwater is generally of very good quality and thus, is a very important source of water supply in the Maritimes. Inappropriate management resulting from lack of knowledge of this hydrogeological system could however put this invaluable resource at risk. The main objectives of the MGWI project are to improve the general understanding of groundwater flow dynamics within the major aquifers of the Maritimes Basin and provide baseline information for a regional groundwater resource assessment. The work of the first year mainly consisted in the setting up of the study group, the definition of the region to study, compilation and structuring of existing data and integration of these data into a database through a geoscientific information management system (GIMS) using a geographic information system. The work performed during the second year included extensive fieldwork (including a regional water-level survey; pumping tests; rock and groundwater sampling; installation of shallow monitoring wells; and surface and borehole geophysical surveys), description of the main hydrostratigraphic units and estimation of their hydrogeological properties, and development of a preliminary numerical model. These activities have allowed a good characterization of the main aquifers, but have also shed light on specific issues which will be addressed in the project's third year.Data analysis and modelling have both indicated that the hydrogeological system under study is mainly semi-confined, but that confined and unconfined conditions may likely be encountered. The preliminary model has been implemented using a single layer representing the bedrock in steady conditions. The single-layer hypothesis to model this heterogeneous bedrock aquifer is justified by the fact that layers of sandstone, siltstone and claystone are interlacing, being lenticular with highly variable lengths, lateral extents and thicknesses and thus, cannot be distinguished at the regional scale. Two scenarios of possible combination of transmissivity and recharge rate values have been carried out, corresponding to confined or unconfined conditions respectively. The modelled piezometry in both cases compare well with the map obtained from interpolated water-level measurements. The semi-confined conditions combined with abundant recharge in many areas would be one of the main reason why very few wells have been contaminated. However, to conclude on the hydraulic property values throughout the domain, more data are necessary. The third year of the project will be devoted to the acquisition of missing data regarding mostly permeability, hydrodynamic conditions and groundwater salinity close to the coast, as well as to 3-D modelling in order to complete the regional portray and study some local areas more at risk. Work performed (including realisation of large databases, fieldwork, modelling) will provide valuable tools to local and governmental authorities for the management of the groundwater resource, ensuring sustainable development based on the evaluation of hydraulic potential and most vulnerable areas.
Status:register completed
TitleMaritimes Groundwater Initiative (MGWI) project
Date2015-03-31 (register publication)
Date2003-01-01 (register creation)
Edition1
Edition date
Citation group
register custodian
Name
OrganisationGovernment of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Lands and Minerals Sector; GSC Quebec
Position
Information
AddressDelivery point :
City :
Administrative region :
Postal code :
Country :
Email geoscdata_cgc_qc@rncan.gc.ca
Telephone
Online Resource
Citation group
register author
NameYves Michaud
OrganisationGovernment of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Geological Survey of Canada - Quebec
Position
Information
AddressDelivery point : 490 rue de la Couronne 490 rue de la Couronne
City : Québec Québec
Administrative region : Québec Québec
Postal code :
Country : Canada Canada
Email yves.michaud@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Telephonetelephone voice; 1 (418) 6542673
telephone
Online Resourcehttp://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
Citation group
register distributor
NameEric Boisvert
OrganisationGovernment of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Geological Survey of Canada - Quebec
Position
Information
AddressDelivery point : 490 rue de la Couronne 490 rue de la Couronne
City : Québec Québec
Administrative region : Québec Québec
Postal code :
Country : Canada Canada
Email eric.boisvert@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Telephonetelephone voice; 1 (418) 6543705
telephone
Online Resourcehttp://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php
Presentation formregister Map digital
Series

Related publication

  • Commission géologique du Canada - Québec, Ressources Naturelles Canada, 2003. Projet d'initiative sur les eaux souterraines dans les maritimes (IESM). Ressources Naturelles Canada.

Goals

Produce a groundwater inventory of the Carboniferous Maritimes bassin, located in the southeast part of New Brunswick (Moncton Subwatershed) including: 1) delineation of main aquifers (definition of the hydrostratigraphic context); 2) definition of the groundwater flow system (piezometric map); 3) evaluation of the groundwater quality 4) a first draft of water availability by defining the sustainable yield for the Moncton Subwatershed. Hydrological mapping (sheet 1/250 000) of the Moncton Subwatershed will also be done.

Keyword(s)

Thesaurus
TitleGovernment of Canada Core Subject Thesaurus
Date2004 (register creation)
Date2013-05-11 (register revision)
Edition
Edition date
Citation group
register custodian
Name
OrganisationGovernment of Canada; Library and Archives Canada
Position
Information
Typeregister
TermHydrogeology
Languageeng; CAN
Character encodingutf8
Thematic categoryinlandWaters
ExtentLocalisation
-65.540000000,45.690000000;-63.480000000,46.550000000
Supplemental information

Distribution

Specific information related to data distribution
Format
NameWMS
Version1.3.0
Format
NameHTML
Version5

Distributor

Contact
register custodian
Name
OrganisationGovernment of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Lands and Minerals Sector; GSC Quebec
Position
Information
AddressDelivery point :
City :
Administrative region :
Postal code :
Country :
Email geoscdata_cgc_qc@rncan.gc.ca
Telephone
Online Resource

Distributor

Contact
register distributor
NameEric Boisvert
OrganisationGovernment of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Geological Survey of Canada - Quebec
Position
Information
AddressDelivery point : 490 rue de la Couronne 490 rue de la Couronne
City : Québec Québec
Administrative region : Québec Québec
Postal code :
Country : Canada Canada
Email eric.boisvert@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Telephonetelephone voice; 1 (418) 6543705
telephone
Online Resourcehttp://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php

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Quality


Quality description scope :register dataset

Lineage

Message Date lineage
Lineage is the description of the sources and steps used to create the current dataset.


Introduction
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Process step Sources


Technical details and constraints

File identifier27a4ec9e-6ed4-45c6-a673-6646e3fce73d
Languageeng; CAN
Character encodingregister utf8
Hierarchical classificationregister dataset
Date2003-09-22
Metadata standardNorth American Profile of ISO 19115:2003 - Geographic information - Metadata
VersionCAN/CGSB-171.100-2009
Constraints
Update frequencyregister asNeeded

Regionalisation

Metadata are available in those languages (You can use language menu item in the top menu bar to switch language):
Language code Pays Encodage
register Frenchregister Canadaregister utf8

Geographic Reference System

Reference System codeunknown
Registerhttp://www.epsg-registry.org/
Version6.14

Metadata Contact

register custodian
Name
OrganisationGovernment of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Lands and Minerals Sector; GSC Quebec
Position
Information
AddressDelivery point :
City :
Administrative region :
Postal code :
Country :
Email geoscdata_cgc_qc@rncan.gc.ca
Telephone
Online Resource
register publisher
NameEric Boisvert
OrganisationGovernment of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Geological Survey of Canada - Quebec
Position
Information
AddressDelivery point : 490 rue de la Couronne 490 rue de la Couronne
City : Québec Québec
Administrative region : Québec Québec
Postal code :
Country : Canada Canada
Email eric.boisvert@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Telephonetelephone voice; 1 (418) 6543705
telephone
Online Resourcehttp://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php