Groundwater is water that is occurring beneath ground surface in voids, cracks, and pores of the rocks or soils. The underground area where water completely fills the pore spaces is called the saturated zone. The top of the saturated zone is the water table. The unsaturated zone is the area between the water table and the ground surface, where some of the pore spaces are not completely filled with water. Groundwater is recharged through precipitation (rain or snow melt), which infiltrates down through soil and rocks towards the water table. Groundwater is parts of the hydrologic cycle as illustrated below.

Hydrologic cycle

For domestic wells with water needs under 5,000,000 litres per year (no permit required) :

1. Establish how much water you need and availability of the ground water source (aquifer) in your area. This can be done in consultation with a water well driller and/or Water Security Agency.

2. Obtain drilling quotes, select water well driller, and proceed with the work.

3. Submit a Water Well Driller Report (WWDR) to WSA upon completion of the well or test hole (usually done by the water well driller on behalf of their client).

For industrial, commercial, municipal, and other large users (permit is required), contact Water Security Agency and follow the prescribed process with the regulatory adviser in your area.

Qualified drilling contractors who are valued members of SGWA are listed in our MEMBER DIRECTORY.

Under the Ground Water Regulations administered through that The Water Security Agency Act, all water well drilling machines that operate in Saskatchewan must be registered with the regulatory agency. Water Security Agency administers the registration and publishes the list of registered water well drilling machines on their website.

Any person who owns or occupies land may use up to 5,000 cubic metres (4 acre-feet) of ground water per year, for domestic purposes on the land, without obtaining permit and license.

Other uses, such as irrigation projects, commercial and intensive livestock operations, multiuse, municipal or industrial water supply systems, and significant ground water de-watering projects require a Water Rights Licence and Approval to Construct and Operate Works from the Water Security Agency. The Water Security Agency is a provincial Crown corporation that has been established to manage, administer, develop, control and protect the water, watersheds and related land resources of Saskatchewan. Included in this mandate, the Water Security Agency has the responsibility for administering the approval process for construction and operation of wells and other ground water works and the right to use ground water. This authority is granted by The Water Security Agency Act and the Ground Water Regulations administered under that Act.

More regulatory information can be found HERE.

Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) provides rebates to develop secure and sustainable agricultural water sources, such as wells, dugouts, pipelines and dams. This program is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and can cover up to 50% of cost of drilling a new well for eligible agricultural producers.

The availability of extractable potable groundwater varies greatly across Saskatchewan. Some areas of the province have several aquifers containing potable groundwater, while other areas have no aquifers or the water is too saline. Some aquifers are close to surface while others are over 1,200 feet deep. Water Security Agency (WSA) maintains maps of groundwater occurrence for most of the agricultural areas of Saskatchewan. These maps can be used to estimate the location and drilling depth. It is strongly recommended to contact drilling contractor and/or WSA for assistance with interpretation. A qualified water well driller can also provide assistance with determining the best location, set-back distances from other hazards, and ensure best practice construction.

Review of existing water wells in the area can also provide some idea whether any usable groundwater is available in the general area. These records available to the public through WSA: Water Wells GIS Site

In general, groundwater exploration always involves risk due to complex geology beneath our feet. The best and proven method of finding groundwater remains exploration and test hole drilling.

Groundwater quality is extremely variable and cannot be predicted prior to drilling. Water quality from neighbouring wells can sometimes be used to gauge overall chemical composition, assuming the new water well will be completed into the same aquifers as the other wells.

In general, groundwater quality in Saskatchewan is considered poor with the total dissolved solids (TDS) often exceeding recommended guidelines. Water treatment and/or disinfection are often required. Prior to treatment, water quality from any new well should be thoroughly tested in an accredited laboratory. Analysis should include general chemical composition as well as trace elements, including arsenic, selenium, and uranium as these toxic metals are commonly found in high concentrations in groundwater.

To have your drinking water tested at the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory (RRPL), follow the instructions at Getting Water Tested | SaskHealthAuthority. Water can also be tested through the Saskatchewan Research Council. Please visit Water Quality Testing | Saskatchewan Research Council (src.sk.ca).

Yes, you should.

Water quality from any new well should be throughly tested in an accredited laboratory. Analysis should include general chemical composition as well as trace elements, including arsenic, selenium, and uranium as these toxic metals are commonly found in high concentrations in groundwater. Water quality test will help determine if and what treatment is required.

Subsequent annual bacteriological testing is strongly recommended to ensure that water is safe for drinking. Shock chlorination is needed if water is found to contain high counts of coliform. Water well should also be inspected for integrity and activities that could lead to high coliform count.

To have your drinking water tested at the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory (RRPL), follow the instructions at Getting Water Tested | SaskHealthAuthority. Water can also be tested through the Saskatchewan Research Council. Please visit Water Quality Testing | Saskatchewan Research Council (src.sk.ca).

A record of completed water well should be provided to the client by the driller upon completion of work. Driller is also required to submit a copy well report to the Water Security Agency. These records available to the public through WSA: Water Wells GIS Site

An e-log (electric log) is geophysical method of obtaining a vertical profile or log of the borehole in addition to the lithology logged by the driller. It is typically completed on an open small diameter borehole (after a borehole is drilled to the target depth but before the well is installed).

An e-log is not required but highly recommended because it provides objective verification of the lithology described by the driller. It is also used to ensure accurate well completion into the target aquifer.

See Landowner's Guide to Water Well Managements to learn more about drilling and logging process and techniques.

Shock chlorination is synonymous with well maintenance. Bacterial growth in water wells can reduce well yield, clog the pump, restrict water flow in distribution lines, as well as create staining, taste, and odour problems. Shock chlorination for bacterial control is recommended at least twice per year.

Detailed procedure on shock chlorination is described in WSA's Landowner's Guide to Water Well Management on page 45-46 as well as on WSA's WEBSITE.

Well performance depends on many factors including materials from which the well is constructed, quality of work or well installation, and regular well maintenance (or lack thereof).

Some common problems include biofouling (bacterial growth inside well which can restrict water flow), improper well design and construction, insufficient well development (post-drilling cleaning), failure or collapse of well casing or screen due to corrosion, plugging of formation and screen due to over-pumping, and more. Details can be found in the Landowner's Guide to Water Well Management on page 23-24.

In general, a water well's life can be maximized by ensuring proper well design, material, and installation, as well as regular well maintenance (shock chlorination) to prevent biofouling and plugging.

Seek advice regarding a specific issue from your local water well driller or Water Security Agency.

There could be several reasons: screens or flow lines are plugged, the well is collapsed, the pump is broken, or low water level (below pump intake).

In some cases, the well and its equipment could remain functional but the water level has critically dropped so the well is effectively dry. This can often occur in shallow bored wells or sandpoints which are prone to extreme seasonal fluctuations and droughts. Lack of water in deeper wells could be a sign of impact from other users nearby.

Seek advice regarding a specific issue from your local water well driller and/or Water Security Agency.

Unused or abandoned wells must be properly decommissioned.

Abandoned wells are wells that are no longer in use or functional. Over the years, many wells and test holes around homes and farms throughout the province have been abandoned without being properly sealed and decommissioned. Abandoned wells or improperly decommissioned wells can pose a serious threat to groundwater quality and can also be a safety hazard. Therefore, all abandoned wells should be properly decommissioned to prevent contamination and to eliminate any safety hazards. When a replacement water well is drilled, the old well should be decommissioned.

Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) provides rebates to develop secure and sustainable agricultural water sources and also supports rural well decommissioning. This program is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and can cover up to 90% of cost of well decommissioning cost for eligible agricultural producers.

Detailed well decommissioning procedures are available in the Landowner's Guide to Water Well Management on page 31-35 and as a standalone decommissioning factsheet.

SGWA recommends well decommissioning to be done by a qualified water well driller.