Hydrogeology of the Edmonton area (southeast segment), Alberta

The southeast segment of the Edmonton map area (NTS 83H) covers about 4500 square km within the Eastern Alberta Plains physiographic region. Climate is microthermal with long, cool summers. Precipitation averages 430 mm annually and 75 percent falls as rain. Glacial deposits overlie a succession of Upper Cretaceous shales, siltstones, sandstones and coals. Within these deposits, aquifers consisting of sand and gravel, sandstone, and fractured coal are capable of yielding groundwater at rates of up to 8 l/sec (100 igpm). Groundwater flow is generally from a western upland area to the east, but permeability variations and local topographic reversals strongly modify this situation. Bedrock hydrochemical zonation is strong and regions of sodium bicarbonate, sulfate and chloride composition occupy distinct zones with respect to stratigraphy and position within various flow systems.