Okanagan Valley fill aquifer

Aquifer

Project
Okanagan Valley

Datasets

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Okanagan Valley fill aquifer unit description

Update:2014-03-07
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.
Physiography
Hydrogeological regionCordillera
Hydrogeological context
ReliefThe hydrogeological unit is located at the bottom of the valley, bordering the east side of Okanagan Lake. The terrain is flat and there is no significant slope. Elevations range from 340 to 500 m.
Area282.00 km2
Lithology
DescriptionThe hydrogeological unit of Okanagan Valley Fill designates older unconsolidated sediments; sand, silt, gravel and till deposited prior to the last ice advance. 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 such as till, glaciolacustrine clays, alluvial deposits and others.
Source
Aquifer
AquifersList of aquifer Okanagan Valley Fill

Unit properties

Surficial aquifer media
Typical value:porous
Description ancient undifferentiated quaternary sediments
Source Surficial geology, Kelowna, British Columbia
Confinement
Typical value:confined
Source Surficial geology, Kelowna, British Columbia
Surficial sediment thickness
Range: [50 to ] m
Description Thickness higher than 50 meters.
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Surficial unit hydraulic conductivity
1E-7 m/s
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Regional precipitation
381 mm/y
Description Average annual precipitation for Kelowna is 381 mm
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Regional recharge
Range: [4 to 8] mm/y
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Regional discharge
Description Okanagan Lake
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Aquifer vulnerability
Typical value:low
Source Aquifer Classification Database