Hydrogeology of the Wainwright Area, Alberta

The Wainwright map area lies southeast of Edmonton between longitudes 110 degrees and 112 degrees west and latitudes 52 degrees and 53 degrees north. It covers about 6000 square miles (15,500 square km) of mostly aspen parkland. Precipitation is about 14 inches 136 cm) annually, while potential evapotranspiration is about 21 inches (54 cm).

Hydrogeological information is abundant for depths less than about 500 feet (152 m). At depths greater than 500 feet (152 m) the hydrologic environment has been inferred from geological information. Geologic units of hydrogeological interest include the glacial drift, preglacial sands and gravels, Horseshoe Canyon Formation, Bearpaw Formation, Belly River Formation and Lea Park Formation. The last four named are Late Cretaceous in age. Groundwater yields are generally between 0 and 25 igpm (about 0 to 100 l/min) with certain areas having much greater yields. Groundwater quality is not exceptionally good; one third to one half of the samples analyzed exceeded provincial standards for total dissolved solids (i.e. sulfate, alkalinity, or sodium). Nitrate a local pollution problem. In addition to the groundwater availability map at 1:250 000 scale, maps at 1:1,000,000 scale are presented showing hydrochemistry of bedrock waters for the depth intervals 0 to 150 feet (0 to 46 m) 150 to 350 feet (46 to 107 m), and 350 to 500 feet (107 to 152 m). Hydrochemistry of drift waters from 0 to 150 feet (0 to 46 m) of depth is also presented.