Groundswell Community Based Groundwater Monitoring Network

4/8/2017 Groundswell Community Based Groundwater Monitoring Network

By: Jenna Jones and Makayla Jamieson SR. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS, NSCC WATERFRONT CAMPUS Jenna Jones, Makayla Jamieson NSCC ENTG Students 401-17 Portland Street, Dartmouth, NS  B2Y 1H1 (778)-918-2824, (902)-483-4625

September 13, 2016

NSCC, Waterfront Campus 80 Mawiomi Place Dartmouth, NS B2Y 0A5

Faculty of the Environmental Engineering Program: Groundwater is a very sensitive part of the hydrologic cycle, particularly in Nova Scotia. Currently in Nova Scotia, information and analysis on ground water is remarkably limited. This information is vital when considering the population that is dependent on groundwater. Currently one program dedicated to the monitoring of groundwater is the Groundswell program, run by the Ecology Action Center. By partnering with the EAC to work on Groundswell, we will uncover more information on HRM’s groundwater. Groundswell is a community based groundwater monitoring network that enables the community to monitor groundwater levels from 8 different wells in the HRM. Data from these wells gets collected by community groups and volunteers, and is then processed. This data can be used to find trends, and used for industrial and domestic development plans. Currently the program has de-escalated; data is not being loaded or processed, wells are not being assessed, and the EAC lacks the man power for these tasks. Larissa Holman, freshwater project coordinator of the EAC has agreed to offer assistance in our study and contribution to the Groundswell program. We met to discuss the program, which involves bringing it back to life, enriching current information, performing well inspections, and adding more QAQC controls to the program. For the completion of our work in Groundswell, the wells have been visited and assessed, and data from the wells was downloaded for processing, and interpretation. We are excited to be a part of the Groundswell program, and uncover information about our groundwater resources. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jenna Jones or Makayla Jamieson at [email protected] and [email protected] .

Sincerely, Jenna Jones, Makayla Jamieson; NSCC Environmental Engineering Students

Executive Summary The NSCC Senior Environmental Engineering Technology (ENTG) students, Jenna Jones, and Makayla Jamieson, partnered with the Ecology Action Center (EAC) to complete work in the groundwater level monitoring program, Groundswell. Groundswell monitors 8 Groundwater Observation wells located in middle-eastern Nova Scotia for the purpose of increasing knowledge on groundwater, as currently in Nova Scotia, there is limited data available on groundwater. Information on groundwater levels in Nova Scotia is extremely minute and this program has enabled communities access to this information To conduct research in Groundswell, the 8 well sites were visited, data was downloaded directly from the data loggers that remain in the wells themselves, a brief well assessment was conducted, and the data was later processed and interpreted. The research found that there is a long-term trend of groundwater levels being lowered over the past 5 years. Significantly, the summer of 2016 has seen the lowest groundwater levels on record with the Groundswell program. This is caused by the drought conditions experienced by the province during that summer. Climate change presents to us longer bouts of wet and dry spells and is something that will continue to happen in the province. By monitoring these trends Nova Scotia can make better decisions when it comes to land use and the use of groundwater. Recommendations for further work in Groundswell are as follows: - Improve QAQC - Add more monitoring wells to the Groundswell database - Have available and reliable transportation for well site visits - Learn and understand how to update applicable software, and maintain equipment The NSCC ENTG Program is now an integral part of the Ecology Action Centres Groundswell program. With this partnership students have the opportunity to obtain firsthand experience with groundwater monitoring in Nova Scotia. As the first students to take on the program we hope that future students will take the baton and continue this important research.

Table of Contents Executive Summary ...... 2 1.0 Introduction ...... 5 1.1 Purpose...... 5 1.2 Background ...... 5 2.0 Methodology ...... 6 Site Visit...... 6 Data Processing ...... 6 3.0 Setting ...... 7 3.1 Geology ...... 7 3.2 Well Site Descriptions ...... 8 3.3 Well Site Measurements ...... 11 4.0 Results ...... 12 4.1 Groundwater Elevations ...... 12 GS 101 Valley Gate/South Uniacke ...... 12 GS 102 Fall River ...... 13 GS 103 Waverley ...... 14 GS 104 Beaver Bank ...... 15 GS 105 Glen Arbour ...... 16 GS 106 Milford ...... 17 GS 107 Halifax ...... 18 GS 108 New Ross...... 19 GS 109 Lahave ...... 20 NSCC Woodside ...... 20 4.2 Groundwater Elevation Summary ...... 20 4.3 Precipitation ...... 21 Water Level Recovery ...... 22 5.0 Recommendations ...... 23 Software updates and Equipment Maintenance ...... 23 Loggers ...... 23 Transportation ...... 23

6.0 Conclusion ...... 24 References ...... 25

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Purpose

Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Students Jenna Jones and Makayla Jamieson have conducted this report to increase knowledge on groundwater resources in Nova Scotia. The study was completed as part of Applied Research Project II course requirements in the Environmental Engineering Technology Diploma Program at NSCC. Groundwater is a very sensitive part of the hydrologic cycle, particularly in Nova Scotia. Currently in Nova Scotia, information and analysis on ground water is limited. This information is vital when considering the large population that is dependent on groundwater. Currently one program dedicated to the monitoring of groundwater is the Groundswell program, run by the Ecology Action Center (EAC). We have partnered with the EAC to work on Groundswell as our Applied Research project. Through this partnership we have established and analysed groundwater trends from 2011 to 2017 in 8 different communities. The project will continue through the EAC and NSCC for years to come, creating a database for historical and current groundwater information.

1.2 Background

Groundswell is a community based groundwater monitoring network that enables the community to monitor groundwater levels from 8 different wells in southern central Nova Scotia. Data from these wells is collected by community groups and volunteers, and is then processed. This data can be used to find long term and seasonal trends, and used for industrial and domestic development plans. The Ecology Action Centre (EAC) has not had the resources to keep up with Groundswell; data is not being loaded or processed, wells are not being assessed, and the EAC lacks the man power for these tasks. Larissa Holman, freshwater project coordinator of the EAC has provided vital information and assistance through our work in Groundswell. The study of groundwater requires monitoring wells in order to retrieve water level measurements. The Ecology Action Centre’s Groundswell Program currently consists of 8 monitoring wells with data logger and barologgers inside of them recording data 24/7. The monitoring wells are located within Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) or very close to HRM. Locations are as follows: Fall River, Milford, New Ross, Halifax, South Uniacke, Waverley, Glen Arbour, Lahave, and Beaver Bank.

2.0 Methodology

Site Visit

Each well site was visited by Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Students Jenna Jones and Makayla Jamieson for data collection and well assessment. The level logger and barologger data is loaded onto the student computer and processed at a later date. A well assessment checklist was created for the purpose of establishing well site conditions, environment and well as a source of reference for future assessments.

Table 1: Well Assessment Checklist

Well Assessment Checklist

Required Equipment: Required Field Work  Laptop with Solinst Software  Level Logger Data  Solinst Logger connection cords  Barologger Data  Water Level Metre  Casing Diameter  Measuring tape  Height of casing, from ground to  Camera top of casing ( 2 measurements if  Waterproof Paper on slope)  Wrench (specific sizes)  Elevation  Coordinates Photos:  Outside of well  Inside of Well  Well in relationship to surroundings

If this checklist is utilized by future students, changes in well integrity can be identified as well as environmental conditions. Geology and Soil type are considered in the report as well to establish the hydrogeological setting.

Data Processing

The data collected from the loggers needs to go through a process to create meaningful results. The readings from the level loggers need to be compensated by the atmospheric pressure readings from the barologgers, because it reads the total pressure acting on it, this is done by simply subtracting the barologger data from the level logger data. Level logger data – barologger data = compensated data

This can be done quickly and easily through the Solinst Level Logger software wizard. The data at this point is the reading of the amount of water above where the level logger is placed in the well. This is why it is important to have accurate line length data so that the actual water table elevation can be found. From here we can apply a simple equation: Elevation, top of casing – Line length + Compensated data = Groundwater Elevation above sea level Appendix B contains a reference document by Solinst if further interpretation is desired. After data has been through this process, graphs can be created to analyze the data further.

3.0 Setting

3.1 Geology

Table 2: Site Geology

Well Site Bedrock Geology Surficial Geology Fall River Glen Arbour Halifax Formation LaHave Ground moraine and Halifax Goldenville Formation streamlined drift Waverley Milford Murphy Road, Pesaquid and Green Oaks Formations New Ross Middle-Late Devonian Leucomonzogranite Beaver Bank Goldenville Formation Alluvial Deposits Valley Gate/South Uniacke Unknown Unknown

Bedrock Halifax Formation – Part of the Meguma group, the Halifax Formation is denoted by slate, siltstone, minor sandstone, and Fe-Mn nodules. Goldenville Formation- Part of the Meguma Group, the Goldenville Formation is denoted by sandstone turbidites and slate. Murphy Road, Pesaquid and Green Oaks Formations – Part of the Windsor Group, these formations are denoted by siltstone, minor gypsum and shallow marine limestone. Middle-Late Devonian Leucomonzogranite- Part of the Liscomb complex

Surficial Geology Ground moraine and streamlined drift – Denoted by silty, compact material. Has moderate drainage and stoniness, and a moderate to good buffering capacity for acid rain. Has flat to rolling topography. Alluvial Deposits- Denoted by gravel, sand, and mud. Known as a major source of groundwater, with a high water table. Has flat or gently sloping topography.

3.2 Well Site Descriptions

Images of each of the sites can be found in Appendix A. South Uniacke GS 101 is located is the community of South Uniacke, near a mobile home park. The well is at the base of a low-sloping, south-facing grass lawn. The nearest watercourse is approximately 900 metres to the west. The well was drilled as part of a hydrogeological assessment for drinking water at the park, is protected by a large concrete culvert, and is accessed by a locked metal access panel. (Ecology Action Center, 2014) This site was not personally visited by NSCC students. Fall River GS 102 is located at the Gordon R. Snow community centre in Fall River. The site is on a narrow landscaped lawn between a paved driveway and a wooded trail. The well was drilled to provide drinking water to the Centre however because it did not meet national quality and quantity standards, it has not been used. Potable water is provided to the building by Lake Thomas, 200 metres to the east. The well is protected by a secure steel well cap. (Ecology Action Center, 2014) At the time of the site visit by NSCC students, it was -1°C, and there was snow on the ground. Waverley GS 103 is located on private property in the community of Waverley. The site is on a narrow lawn between a gravel parking area and a warehouse building. The well was drilled as a monitoring well as part of a field school course with the Nova Scotia Community College Water Resources program. Students from the college assisted in drilling the well, performed draw down tests and collected water quality samples. The nearest water body is a small lake 200 metres to the southwest. The well is protected by a secure steel cap. (Ecology Action Center, 2014) The barologger at this site was not allowing the downloading of data at the time of the site visit. Weather conditions at the time of the site visit consisted of cloud cover, and snow.

Beaver Bank GS 104 is located on property owned by Halifax Regional Municipality in the community of Beaver Bank. The site is a recreational park which includes two baseball fields and a bike park. The well is located on flat dirt and gravel between these three fields. The well was drilled by Nova Scotia Natural Resources as part of a study of localized high yield aquifers. The aquifer represented by this well is artesian (groundwater under pressure). The nearest watercourse is a stream 100 metres to the south. The well is protected by a secure steel cap. (Ecology Action Center, 2014). The weather conditions at the time of the site visit were -3°C with cloud cover. There is no barologger for this well. Glen Arbour GS 105 is located on an undeveloped lot in a fifteen year old residential subdivision in the community of Hammonds Plains. The site is wooded with mature trees, and is on a moderate, west-facing slope. The well was drilled during a hydrogeological assessment of the area prior to development of the subdivision. The nearest watercourse is a stream 100 metres to the west. The well is protected by a secure steel cap. (Ecology Action Center, 2014) The weather conditions at the time of the site visit were overcast, with snow cover of 10cm. The casing of this well appeared to be rusted and flaking. Milford GS 106 is located in the community of Milford Station. The site is owned by Nova Scotia Transportation Infrastructure and Renewal (NSTIR) and is at the base of two slopes: a steep north-facing grassy slope from highway 224, and a southwest facing slope of farm land. The well was drilled by NSTIR to assess groundwater quality in this area. The nearest watercourse is a stream 500 metres to the south. The well is fitted with a secured steel cap and a tall flagged post visible from active farming machinery. (Ecology Action Center, 2014) This site was not personally visited by NSCC students. Halifax GS 107 is located in the north end community of Halifax at the Technical Institute Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College. The site is on a small area of lawn between a paved parking area and driveway to the northeast, and a building to the southwest, and is relatively flat. The nearest known water body is the Bedford Basin, 600 metres to the north. The well was drilled as a monitoring well for students attending the college. The well is protected by a secured steel cap. (Ecology Action Center, 2014)

The well showed signs of mold during the site visit. The well cap is cracked on the side, and the top of casing is jagged/not flush. New Ross GS 108 is located in the community of New Ross, at the Ross Farm Museum. The site is on relatively level ground, with a small gift shop and information centre several metres to the east, and a gravel parking lot 10 metres to the west. The well was originally drilled to supply the centre with drinking water, however water quality from this well did not meet national standards and is no longer used. The nearest water body is approximately 200 metres to the east. The well is hidden from view, and is protected by a steel cap. (Ecology Action Center, 2014) This site was not personally visited by NSCC students. LaHave GS 109 is located on private property in LaHave, near Bridgewater. The site is on ground sloping to the south. The well was originally drilled to supply a home with drinking water however the residents use water from a dug well. (Ecology Action Center, 2014) This site was not personally visited by NSCC students.

3.3 Well Site Measurements

These measurements were taken for the use of future students who work with Groundswell. Measurements should be taken in the future, and if any changes are to be found between past and present measurements, it is to be noted. Changes in the ground to top of casing measurement could indicate sinking/subsidence which would compromise the integrity of the well. Changes in the casing diameter could indicate corrosion/buildup, which would compromise the integrity of the well.

Table 3: Well Site Measurements

Inner Casing Outer Casing Well Site Ground to Top of Casing (cm) Diamter (cm) Diamter (cm) On upper gradient: 20.5 15.6 17.1 Fall River On lower Gradient: 45.4 Glen Arbour 23.8 15.5 16.2 LaHave Not Available Not Available Not Available Halifax 47 15.5 17.1 Waverley 32.8 15.7 16.7 Milford Not Available Not Available Not Available On upper gradient:27.25 inches 6 inches 6 5/8 inches New Ross* On lower gradient: 29 inches Beaver Bank 24.7 19.9 22.7 South Uniacke Not Available Not Available Not Available

The LaHave, Milford, and South Uniacke sites were not personally visited, therefore this data is unavailable for this site. As well, the New Ross site data was taken by a volunteer, and is kept in his measurements as inches, to maintain the integrity.

4.0 Results

4.1 Groundwater Elevations

The following is a summary of the results interpreted from each well location. Photographs of each site can be found in Appendix A. GS 101 Valley Gate/South Uniacke Data reviewed for the South Uniacke well is from December 2012 to June 2016, data was acquired from the Ecology Action Centre. This is the final record for GS 101. This well was removed in June because the current land owners will be using the well as a water source, this is also why there was no site visit or photos for the study. Statistics in metres above sea level are as follows:

Table 4 Statistics South Uniacke

Date Elevation, ASL Historical Low 2014-09-21 152.36m Average 153.24m Historical High 2015-04-23 154.21m

The long term trend in groundwater levels stays relatively balanced, with lower levels during summer seasons and higher levels in the wintertime. The loggers were taken out before the summer of 2016, which may have presented a lowering of the water table.

South Uniake 2012-2016 Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres Linear (Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres)

154

153 Elevation ASL, Metres Elevation

152 18-Dec-12 18-Dec-13 18-Dec-14 18-Dec-15 Date

Figure 1: South Uniacke (ENTG 2017)

GS 102 Fall River Data reviewed for the Fall River well is from March 2011 to January 2017, data was acquired from the Ecology Action Centre website from March 2011 to June 2014, and the remaining data was directly loaded from the site visit. Statistics in metres above sea level for water levels are as follows:

Table 5 Statistics Fall River

Date Elevation, ASL Historical Low 2016-09-16 24.67m Average 25.47m Historical High 2012-09-23 25.95m

Long term trends show an overall lowering of the water table, and particularly low water levels in the summer of 2016. The 2016 low levels are representative to the drought throughout that summer. There is a large amount of data missing from October 2014 to June 2015, which may have an effect on the trendline.

Fall River 2011-2017 Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres Linear (Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres) 26

25.6

25.2 ASL (M) ASL

24.8

24.4 22-Mar-11 22-Mar-12 22-Mar-13 22-Mar-14 22-Mar-15 22-Mar-16 Date

Figure 2: Fall River (ENTG 2017)

GS 103 Waverley Data reviewed for the Waverley well is from April 2011 to January 2017, data was acquired from the Ecology Action Centre website from April 2011 to December 2013, and the remaining data was directly loaded from the site visit. Statistics in metres above sea level are as follows:

Table 6 Statistics Waverley

Date Elevation, ASL Historical Low 2016-09-19 34.32m

Average 35.71m Historical High 2014-12-11 36.70m

Long term trends show an overall lowering of the water table, and particularly low water levels in the summer of 2016. The 2016 low levels are representative to the drought throughout that summer.

Waverley 2012-2017 Groundwater Level ASL (Metres) Linear (Groundwater Level ASL (Metres)) 37

36 ASL (M) ASL

34 2011-04-12 2012-04-12 2013-04-12 2014-04-12 2015-04-12 2016-04-12 Date

Figure 3: Waverley (ENTG 2017)

GS 104 Beaver Bank The Beaver Bank well is special when considering water levels because it is an artesian well, which means it is under pressure; when water levels rise above the ground it is then considered a flowing artesian well. Data covered for the Beaver Bank well is from May 2012 to March 2017, data was acquired from the Ecology Action Centre website from May 2012 to March 2014, and the remaining was directly loaded from the site visit. Statistics in metres above sea level for water levels are as follows:

Table 7 Beaver Bank Statistics

Date Elevation, ASL Historical Low 2015-11-20 41.01m Average 41.88m Historical High 2012-12-30 42.28m

Long term trends show an overall lowering of the water table, and particularly low water levels throughout late 2015 and summer 2016. For late 2015, it is unknown why water levels reached such low levels, but the 2016 low levels are representative to the drought throughout that summer. This site does not contain a barometer, so GS 102 Fall River barometric readings were applied. There is a concern for the quality of the data due to the merging of the EAC’s data with NSCC’s data showing a difference in maximum water levels, which should not have changed due to the flowing nature of the well. It is recommended that the line length be measured to resolve any discrepancies.

Beaver Bank Groundwater Level ASL, Metres Linear (Groundwater Level ASL, Metres)

42 Groundwater Level ASL, Level Metres Groundwater

41 27-Oct-11 27-Apr-12 27-Oct-12 27-Apr-13 27-Oct-13 27-Apr-14 27-Oct-14 27-Apr-15 27-Oct-15 27-Apr-16 27-Oct-16 Date

Figure 4: Beaver Bank (ENTG 2017)

GS 105 Glen Arbour Data reviewed for the Glen Arbour well is from September 2012 to March 2017, all data was directly loaded from the site visit. Statistics in metres above sea level are as follows:

Table 8 Statistics Glen Arbour

Date Elevation, ASL Historical Low 2016-09-17 99.64 Average 101.02 Historical High 2012-12-23 101.78

The water levels at this site have been significantly dropping since 2011, with longer periods of lower water levels in the summertime every year. The 2016 summer drought is very prominent. The area is close to a residential area which relies on their own well water. The use of groundwater in the near vicinity needs to be considered when interpreting data, it is possible water levels are influenced by other pumping wells.

Glen Arbour 2011-2017 Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres Linear (Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres) 102

101 ASL (Metres) ASL 100

99 4-Sep-12 4-Sep-13 4-Sep-14 4-Sep-15 4-Sep-16 Date

Figure 5: Glen Arbour (ENTG 2017)

GS 106 Milford Data reviewed for the Milford well is from October 2011 to September 2016. The site has been abandoned, so this is the final record for GS 106. The well is only 17m above sea level, making it the lowest well. Data was directly loaded from the removed loggers while off site, therefore a site visit was not conducted nor were photographs taken. Statistics in metres above sea level are as follows:

Table 9 Statistics Milford

Date Elevation, ASL Historical Low 2015-11-19 9.52m Average 10.21m Historical High 2014-04-09 10.89m

There is a lot of missing data for this analysis, which reduces the integrity of results. Long term trends show an overall lowering of the water table. Milford 2011-2017 Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres Linear (Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres) 11

10 ASL (metres) ASL

9 2011-10-28 2012-10-28 2013-10-28 2014-10-28 2015-10-28 Date

Figure 6: Milford (ENTG 2017)

GS 107 Halifax Data reviewed for the NSCC IT Campus well is from April 2012 to January 2017, data was directly loaded from the site visit. Statistics in metres above sea level for water levels are as follows:

Table 10 Statistics Halifax

Date Elevation, ASL Historical Low 2016-09-12 45.13m Average 49.71m Historical High 2015-04-15 52.18m

This well is pumped every 2 years as part of a learning exercise at the college, dates where pumping has occurred data has been removed because it is not representative of actual water levels. Long term trends show an overall lowering of the water table, and particularly low water levels in the summer of 2016. The 2016 low levels are representative of the drought throughout that summer, during this time the water level flatlines, and it is suspected that water levels may have been below the level loggers.

NSCC Leeds Street 2012-2017 Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres Linear (Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres) 53.00

52.00

51.00

50.00

49.00

ASL (Metres) ASL 48.00

47.00

46.00

45.00 19-Apr-12 19-Apr-13 19-Apr-14 19-Apr-15 19-Apr-16 Date

Figure 7: Halifax (ENTG 2017)

GS 108 New Ross Data reviewed for the New Ross well is from August 2012 to March 2017, data was acquired from Matthew Gates from Ross Farm Museum. Statistics in metres above sea level are as follows:

Table 11 Statistics New Ross

Date Elevation, ASL Historical Low 2014-12-10 119.82m Average 121.07m Historical High 2015-11-22 124.06m

Long term trends show an overall lowering of the water table, and particularly low water levels in the summer of 2016. As shown in the graph below we see large increases in water levels at random times. It is unknown why the data displays spikes in water level, and is believed that the data loggers need to be maintenanced to eliminate this from continuing.

New Ross Elevation Above Sea Level, Metres 122

121 Eevation (metres) Eevation

120 2012-08-14 2013-08-14 2014-08-14 2015-08-14 2016-08-14

Figure 8: New Ross (ENTG 2017)

GS 109 Lahave The Lahave well level loggers and barologgers need to be maintenanced and/or updated. The efforts to download the data failed, therefore no analysis was conducted on this well. Photos of the well can be found in appendix A. NSCC Woodside Nova Scotia Community College Waterfront Campus has a well on site that has been added as part of the Groundswell program. Data loggers were installed in this well in October 2016.

4.2 Groundwater Elevation Summary

Throughout the years in Nova Scotia, there has been an overall decrease in water levels, as depicted below.

Figure 9: Groundwater Level Trends (ENTG 2017)

Water Levels Increasing – Water Levels Decreasing - Trend Not Available -

GS101 South Uniake GS105 Glen Arbour GS102 Fall River GS106 Milford GS103 Waverley GS107 Halifax GS104 BeaverBank GS108 New Ross

4.3 Precipitation

The following is a graph that represents precipitation records from 2016:

Precipitation, 2016 90 80 70 60 50 40

30 Precipitation, mm Precipitation, 20 10 0 1-Jan-16 1-Apr-16 1-Jul-16 1-Oct-16

This displays the drought conditions of the summertime, and can be matched with low groundwater levels in the area. Precipitation records can be found in Appendix C, for reference to groundwater levels. All data is from Environment Canadas weather station 8202250 at Halifax Stanfield International airport.

Water Level Recovery In consideration of major precipitation events not all of the wells respond in the same fashion. The following is an example of a rainfall event after drought conditions, and how different aquifers react and recover at different rates. Represented as a 20 day event as a time reference. The drought conditions of 2016 can be observed from day 1-8, then on the ninth day there is a major precipitation event of 83.6mm:

Precipitation Event at Different Well Locations Precipitation Fall River Waverley NSCC IT Campus 90 4 83.6 80 3.39 3.5 70 3

60 <------2016 Drought Conditions 2.5

50 2

40 1.5

30 1 Precipitation, mm Precipitation, 0.81

20 0.5 Change in Groundwate Levels, m Levels, Groundwate in Change 10 0

0 -0.5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Days

The three wells all display different responses to this rainfall event: Fall River displays a gradual straight line, Waverley displays an increase in water level of 0.81m and starts depleting again after two days, and NSCC IT Campus displays an increase of 3.39m and starts depleting again after 3-4 days. This is all relating to the setting (land use), and subsurface conditions of the three wells. These three well sites exhibit the same surficial geology, but different bedrock geologies. Fall River is part of the Halifax Formation, whereas Waverley and the NSCC IT Campus are part of the Goldenville Formation. The NSCC IT Campus has the greatest increase in water level. This is largely due to its proximity to a water body (the Bedford Basin) as well as it being a fractured bedrock system. Although the NSCC IT Campus and Waverley locations have the same bedrock geology, being that the NSCC IT Campus has a fractured system, it leads to greater recharge. This is an example of how setting can impact groundwater levels.

5.0 Recommendations Software updates and Equipment Maintenance All of the Level loggers and barologgers should be updated each year with a software update so that data can be loaded successfully. They should be cleared of all data every 3 years. Maintenance of the data loggers is also recommended, specifically; Lahave, New Ross, Beaver Bank, should be maintenanced by sending them to the supplier. Loggers The Waverley barologger and Lahave level logger did not supply any data, it is recommended that these loggers are either replaced or fixed. Transportation It is recommended that students taking on the Groundswell program have a reliable source of transportation so that all wells can be visited and assessed by the students in the study.

6.0 Conclusion Through Groundswell, Environmental Engineering Technology (ENTG) Students Jenna Jones and Makayla Jamieson have uncovered the secret world of groundwater levels in Nova Scotia. Information on groundwater levels in Nova Scotia is extremely minute and this program has enabled the community access to this information. Groundswell studied groundwater levels, precipitation, and temperature. The 2017 research found that there is a long-term trend of groundwater levels being lowered over the past 5 years. Significantly, the summer of 2016 has seen the lowest groundwater levels on record with the Groundswell program. This is caused by the drought conditions experienced by the province during that summer. Climate change presents to us longer bouts of wet and dry spells and is something that will continue to happen in the province. By monitoring these trends Nova Scotia can make better decisions when it comes to land use and the use of groundwater. The NSCC ENTG Program is now an integral part of the Ecology Action Centres Groundswell program. With this partnership, students have the opportunity to obtain firsthand experience with groundwater monitoring in Nova Scotia. As the first students to take on the program we hope that future students will take the baton and continue this important research. Recommendations for future students include having access to transportation, QA/QC improvements, and learning and understanding software and equipment maintenance.

References Canada, E. (2016, August 09). Daily Data Report for June 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2017, from http://climate.weather.gc.ca/climate_data/daily_data_e.html?hlyRange=1961-01- 01%7C2012-09-13&dlyRange=1953-01-01%7C2012-09-13&mlyRange=1953-01-01%7C2012-09- 01&StationID=6358&Prov=NS&urlExtension=_e.html&searchType=stnProx&optLimit=specDate &StartYear=2011&EndYear=2017&selRowPerPage=25&Line=0&txtRadius=25&optProxType=na vLink&txtLatDecDeg=44.881111111111&txtLongDecDeg=63.508611111111&timeframe=2&Day =1&Year=2012&Month=6# Conley, Stea, Brown. (2003). [Surficial Geology of the Province of Nova Scotia Map 92-3] Retrieved March 17, 2017, from http://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/data/mg/MAP/pdf/map_1992- 003_front_600_cln.pdf Environment, N. S. (2009, April 01). Well Logs Database | Groundwater | Nova Scotia Environment. Retrieved January 15, 2017, from http://novascotia.ca/nse/welldatabase/wellsearch.asp

Groundswell Data. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2017, from https://ecologyaction.ca/issue- area/groundswell-data

Keppie, J.D. (2000). [Nova Scotia Geological Highway Map] Retrieved March 17, 2017 from http://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/data/mg/map/pdf/map_2000-001_gb_d043v2_dp.pdf

Appendix A: Photographs GS 102 Fall River...... 2 GS 103 Waverley ...... 3 GS 104 Beaver Bank ...... 4 GS 105 Glen Arbour ...... 6 GS 107 NSCC IT Campus ...... 8 GS 108 New Ross...... 9 GS 109 Lahave ...... 11

GS 102 Fall River