Monday, October 13, 2008 : 10:30 a.m.

Nonrenewable Ground Water Resources in Alberta: Challenges in Identification, Classification, and Regulation

Kevin Parks, Ph.D., Alberta Geological Survey and David McKenna, Alberta Environment

Groundwater resources in the Canadian province of Alberta are regulated based on salinity, rather than renewability.  Groundwater with a total dissolved solids content of 4000 mg/l or less is termed non-saline and are regulated under the province’s Water Act by the Alberta Environment (AENV).  Groundwater with total dissolved solids greater than 4000 mg/l are termed saline and are not regulated except for licensing of deep wells and reporting requirements of saline-water production to Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB).  The regulatory division is defined by reference to Alberta’s Base of Groundwater Protection (BGP), a mapped surface which defines the base of geological formations which contain, or are likely in hydraulic communication with, non-saline groundwater.   Nonrenewable groundwater resources are found both above and below the BGP. 

Nonrenewable saline groundwater from below the BGP is presently mainly used for oilfield injection purposes.   Only recently has there been any competition between users of this resource.   Ongoing use of deep aquifers for oilfield produced-water injection and oil and gas exploration, coupled with interest in use of deep saline aquifers in Alberta for CO2 sequestration and geothermal energy development suggests future competition for the use of the pore space.  The in situ value of the nonrenewable groundwater resources is now becoming an important consideration because of these future uses. 

Nonrenewable groundwater resources are found above the BGP as well.  The Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) is presently working with AENV to inventory Alberta’s non-saline groundwater supply.  AGS intends to capture in this inventory some statement of resource nonrenewability.  With this information, appropriate policies can evolve that reflect differences in degrees of groundwater renewability or nonrenewability. 

Kevin Parks, Ph.D., Alberta Geological Survey Dr. Kevin Parks, P.Geol. is Manager of the Alberta Geological Survey (AGS) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and a hydrogeologist. The AGS is a group within Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board. His professional work focuses on aquifer mapping and characterization and he is a key leader and contributor in Alberta’s new groundwater inventory program.

David McKenna, Alberta Environment David McKenna is the Head, Groundwater Policy Branch for Alberta Environment, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. His professional work focuses on leading and managing the development of province-wide policies, science-based standards, and programs for groundwater management within Alberta.


The NGWA International Conference on Nonrenewable Ground Water Resources — Sociotechnological Aspects of Nonrenewable Ground Water Resources: Half-Empty, Half-Full, Top-Down, Bottom-Up, and Some Paths Forward