Galiano Groundwater Study

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GALIANO GROUNDWATER STUDY 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Submitted To: 
 
 
 
C/O Mr. Robert Kojima 
Suite 200 – 1627 Fort Street 
Victoria, BC V8R 1H8 
 
 
 
 
Submitted By: 
 
Waterline Resources Inc. 
Nanaimo, BC 
 
March 31, 2011 
 
WL11-1755

GALIANO GROUNDWATER STUDY  WL11-1755 
Galiano Island, British Columbia March 31, 2011 
Submitted to:  Islands Trust Page i 
 
 
 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
 
Galiano   Island   and   other   Gulf   Islands   pose   unique   challenges   in   terms   of   sustainable   
development  of  fresh  water  resources  in  conjunction  with  future  land  use  planning  initiatives.  
Galiano  has  a  relatively  small  landmass  and  land  development  will  undoubtedly  impact  the  
groundwater  resource  in  some  way  through  reduced  volumes  of  infiltrated  rainwater  and  
subsequent  recharge  to  underlying  aquifers  and  increased  water  supply  demands.  In  addition,  
surface activities have the potential to affect the quality of recharging water, and therefore must 
be approached in a careful and thoughtful manner.  These issues are further complicated by the 
possibility of salt water intrusion common to coastal environments.  
 
Over the last few decades, a considerable amount of hydrogeological work has been conducted 
on  Galiano  Island.  Although  individual  hydrogeological  studies  reference  previous  studies,  
historical  data  is  not  easily  integrated  so  that  groundwater  use  and  aquifer  response  can  be  
easily assessed over time.  
 
Although  theoretical  calculations  can  be  made  to  predict  potential  impacts,  assumptions  and  
uncertainties  can  lead  to  incorrect  or  ambiguous  predictions.    Furthermore,  no  requirement  for  
follow  up  groundwater  monitoring  exists,  and  no  verification  of  predictive  estimates  occurs.  
Municipal planning could be greatly improved if there were an opportunity to assess the current 
health of groundwater supply aquifers and to accurately predict the long-term cumulative effects 
of  existing  groundwater  extraction  activities,  or  activities  related  to  potential  future  land  
development. 
 
Approximately  1050  water  wells  are  registered  with  BC  MoE  on  Galiano  Island.  These  wells  
service domestic households, businesses, and industrial operations, yet very few of these wells 
are  being  monitored  in  terms  of  groundwater  diversion,  water  level,  or  quality.  Only  two  wells  
(<0.2%) are currently being monitored for water level by the BC Ministry of Environment in the 
Sturdies Bay area. No other data is readily available to the public from which to assess current 
groundwater conditions.  
 
Continuous   long-term   monitoring   of   aquifer   response   to   natural   phenomenon   such   as   
precipitation events and tidal fluctuations, or human activities such as groundwater pumping and 
diversion,   is   fundamental   to   developing   an   understanding   of   groundwater   systems.   To   
under

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