Province contributes $50,000 to groundwater study

Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon made a $50,000 contribution on behalf of the provincial government towards Malaspina University-College's multi-year study examining groundwater on Vancouver Island.

The Vancouver Island Water Resource Vulnerability Mapping Project will analyze the susceptibility of water quality to hazards associated with human activity and land use, including rapid population growth, development and industrial and commercial land-use practices.

“Water and our watershed is a huge concern for everyone on Vancouver Island,” said Cantalon. “This is exactly the type of research that can help us assess in a practical way the vulnerability of water quality and aquifers. It’s a great example of the type of applied research that Vancouver Island University delivers so well to local communities. The province is pleased to support it.”

Malaspina President Dr. Ralph Nilson said the financial support is greatly appreciated. “This study launched by Malaspina researchers and a host of government and community partners is vitally important,” Nilson said. “It will support decision-makers in future land-use planning, and in developing groundwater protection guidelines and policies.”

 “As Vancouver Island’s population continues to grow, it’s clear the extent to which we are utterly dependent on groundwater,” added Dr. Leslie King, Vice-President, Academic for Malaspina. “This project will enable us to assess potential problems before they arise and therefore, is crucial to future growth and development.”

The study is a collaborative project involving professors and students from Malaspina’s Chemistry, Geology and Geography departments, plus expertise and funding from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Natural Resources Canada, Islands Trust and Vancouver Island regional districts.

Headed up by Malaspina professor and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) expert Dr. Alan Gilchrist, the team will generate a GIS map outlining groundwater vulnerability.

Malaspina Chemistry professor Dr. Erik Krogh said over 20,000 private wells supply drinking water to homeowners and municipalities on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. “Well water comes from many types of aquifers on Vancouver Island, which have different characteristics that make them vulnerable to contamination from human activities on the surface,” he said.

“Once contaminated, aquifers are extremely difficult to remediate and alternate sources are often at great expense to the users. Our research will provide a geographically-based predictive tool to prevent groundwater contamination by helping us to better understand the connectivity between activities on the surface and the underlying hydrology.”

Krogh added the study will focus on groundwater in the regional districts of Cowichan Valley and Nanaimo over the next four to six years. The research team will acquire, compile and assess geological and hydro-geological data from a variety of public and private sources, and test and adapt mapping methodologies that are specific to Vancouver Island water resources.

Eventually, intrinsic susceptibility maps will be produced for the entire Vancouver Island region using a GIS-based methodology called DRASTIC. The maps will categorize aquifers on Vancouver Island that are deemed vulnerable.

The maps and databases will provide a useful screening tool for city planners and other government decision-makers, aiding them in source protection initiatives, and providing a guide to areas that perhaps should be avoided for future development.

“We’ll also identify and compile an inventory of potential hazards and sources of contamination to water resources for the region, including old gas stations and landfill sites,” added Research Associate Regan Purdy.  “We’ll include any site where human activity is detrimental, or has been detrimental, to ground water supplies.”

Malaspina faculty involved in the multi-year study include Krogh (Chemistry), Gilchrist (Geography), and Dr. Steve Earle (Geology). Purdy graduated from Malaspina’s Natural Resource Management program in June 2006.