| Sand and gravel aquifer (No. 464) |
| The sand and gravel aquifer 464 consists of proglacial subaerial-subaqueous fan sediments. The deposits are covered by glaciolacustrine clay of 1-85 m (average 15 m) which confined the aquifer. The latter has a low vulnerability to surface contamination. The aquifer has a good hydraulic conductivity and a high productivity. However, there are local water quantity concerns. It is exploited for multiple uses, including domestic and municipal. There is a high demand for groundwater exploitation. Groundwater quality is good. |
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| Sand and gravel aquifer (No.463) |
| The sand and gravel aquifer 463 consists of proglacial subaerial-subaqueous fan sediments. The deposits are covered by glaciolacustrine clay of 1-99 m (average 22 m) which confined the aquifer. The latter has a low vulnerability to surface contamination. The aquifer has a good hydraulic conductivity and a moderate productivity. It is exploited for domestic uses. There is a high demand for groundwater exploitation. Groundwater quality is good. |
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| High lineament density bedrock aquifer |
| The high lineament density bedrock unit is the only unit that is located on the eastern side of the Okanagan Valley Fault. It consists of mudstone, siltstone and breccia associated with White Lake Formation in the east and Cenozoic andesite in the western part of the unit. The bedrock is mainly covered by alluvial and glaciolacustrine sediments. Along Okanagan Lake some bedrock outcrops may be observed. The bedrock aquifer is mostly under confined conditions. The bedrock has moderate hydraulic conductivity. This unit has the lowest recharge rates for the Okanagan area. Groundwater flows to Okanagan Lake. |
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| Okanagan Valley fill aquifer |
| The hydrogeological unit of Okanagan Valley Fill designates older unconsolidated sediments. Sediments are found in sections that can be up to 100 m high or to a depth of 1 km. The sediments are generally overlain by younger deposits. The aquifer is under confined conditions, suggesting a low to moderate vulnerability to surface contamination. It designates a low recharge rates area. Groundwater flows toward Okanagan Lake. |
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| Alluvial aquifer |
| Alluvial sediments hydrogeological unit designates fluvial terrace sediments composed of sand, gravel and organic debris. The unit thickness varies between 0.5 and 15 m and outcrops and overlies significant glaciolacustrine sediments layer. The aquifer is under unconfined conditions, suggesting high to moderate vulnerability to surface contamination. It designates a low recharge rates area. Groundwater flows toward Okanagan Lake. |
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| Mission Creek Valley fill aquifer (No. 461) |
| Mission Creek Valley Fill aquifer consists of sands and gravels, underlying a thick till unit (4-75 m). It is underlain by moderate lineament density bedrock aquifers and by moderate to low lineament density aquifer. The till unit generates confined conditions for the aquifer. The hydraulic conductivity and the recharge are moderate. Groundwater flows toward Okanagan Lake and is exploited for domestic uses. |
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| Moderate to low lineament density bedrock aquifer |
| Moderate to low lineament density bedrock hydrogeological unit is located in the upland bedrock. It consists of Proterozoic Okanagan Gneiss and Miocene plateau basalts. The bedrock is covered by a till unit. Along the river, there are scree deposits and the Mission Creek Valley Fill aquifer is present. This suggests that the bedrock aquifer is mostly under confined conditions. The bedrock has moderate hydraulic conductivity. This unit has important recharge rates for the Okanagan area. Shallow bedrock groundwater of the eastern part of the unit flows toward Mission Creek Valley Fill aquifer, but the western and north-western part of the unit as well as the deep bedrock groundwater flows toward Okanagan Lake. The deep bedrock groundwater flow is less important than the shallow one because the permeability of the bedrock decreases exponentially with increased depth in the Okanagan Highlands. |
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| Low lineament density bedrock aquifer |
| The low lineament density bedrock is located in the uplands. The bedrock consists of Paleozoic interfoliated schist and paragneiss. The bedrock has moderate hydraulic conductivity. This unit has the highest recharge rates for the Okanagan area, suggesting an unconfined aquifer. Shallow bedrock groundwater flows toward Mission Creek Valley Fill aquifer and deep bedrock groundwater flows toward Okanagan Lake, which designates an important regional discharge. The deep bedrock groundwater flow is less important than the shallow one because the permeability of the bedrock decreases exponentially with increased depth in the Okanagan Highlands. |
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| Moderate lineament density bedrock aquifer |
| The hydrogeological unit is mainly composed of Okanagan gneiss. Some isolated sections present plateau basalts and interfoliated schist and paragneiss. The bedrock outcrops only in some locations, it is mainly covered by a till unit. Along the river, there are scree deposits and the Mission Creek Valley Fill aquifer is present. The bedrock has moderate hydraulic conductivity. This unit has low recharge rates for the Okanagan area. The recharge rates decrease from east to west. Shallow bedrock groundwater of the south-eastern part of the unit flows toward Mission Creek Valley Fill aquifer. Other shallow and deep bedrock groundwater flows toward Okanagan Lake. The deep bedrock groundwater flow is less important than the shallow one because the permeability of the bedrock decreases exponentially with increased depth in the Okanagan Highlands. |
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Groundwater Information Network