Groundwater

Farm well Water wells are a common feature in rural areas of the Prairies, where many residences rely on ground-water for water supply. (Dennis Zlipko, SRC)

Since the supply of good quality surface water is limited, groundwater, which occurs beneath the surface of the ground, is considered a good alternate source of water throughout the Prairies. Groundwater is a renewable resource, but is not unlimited. We must ensure that it is used in a manner that is sustainable in the long term.

Water supply and demand

Water on the Prairies is a precious resource that depends to a great extent on the amount of snowmelt runoff and to a lesser extent to the amount of rainfall runoff. Streams which originate within the Prairies display extreme yearly variability and the majority of the annual runoff may occur during a very short period. As a result, the supply of water is sensitive to changes in our climate. Hotter and longer summers result in increased evaporation and less surface water is available for use. Less surface water will result in an increase in the demand for groundwater.

Dugout (Marks Winters, PFRA)

Water canal (Marks Winters, PFRA)

Centre pivot (Carrie MacPherson, PFRA)

Using water wisely

With water being a limited renewable resource in many areas of the Prairies, greater emphasis is being put into the management and conservation of water resources. Efforts are going towards more efficient methods of distribution, storage, and application of water to meet growing demands for agricultural, municipal, domestic, industrial, and recreational use.

Did you know?
About 10% of Regina, and 40% of the rural population of Saskatchewan relies on groundwater.

References

Environment Canada, 1997: The Canada Country Study: Climate Impacts and Adaptation, the Canadian Prairies Summary; Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 10 p.