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Aggregates and Groundwater in Alberta: A Hydrogeologist's Perspective


With the introduction of the Alberta Environment and Park's Guide to Water Act Authorizations Required for Dugouts, Borrow Pits, and Other Types of Pits/Excavations in 2016, groundwater has become an increasingly important consideration when developing aggregate resources.

To meet current legislative requirements within Alberta, sand and gravel developers need to consider the potential influence of their sand and gravel development on surrounding groundwater and surface water resources, including activities such as pit dewatering, wet pit excavation, end-pit lakes and water bodies, groundwater disturbance by backfilling with fine-grained overburden beneath the water table, etc.

In this increasingly complex regulatory environment, Waterline has the experience and expertise to help aggregate producers successfully navigate aggregate development permitting by offering the following services in Alberta and BC:

  • Determining pit locations to minimize permitting costs related to groundwater;

  • Aggregate exploration;

  • Water Act applications;

  • Dewatering studies;

  • Surface water/groundwater interaction studies;

  • Predicting thermal effects and water balances of end-pit wetlands and ponds; and

  • Attending and presenting at open houses and council meetings.

Waterline often partners with other subject matter experts to offer the full suite of services required for aggregate permitting and Waterline have active working relationships with a number of small and large aggregate companies in Alberta and BC. Call Waterline today at 1-888-542-5611 for more information.

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