Sand and gravel aquifer (No. 464)

Aquifer

Version Metadata
81418c9a-c16e-47cd-8fc9-f738c32d76d5
Project
Okanagan Valley

Datasets

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Sand and gravel aquifer (No. 464) unit description

Update:2014-03-11
The sand and gravel aquifer 464 consists of proglacial subaerial-subaqueous fan sediments. The deposits are covered by glaciolacustrine clay of 1-85 m (average 15 m) which confined the aquifer. The latter has a low vulnerability to surface contamination. The aquifer has a good hydraulic conductivity and a high productivity. However, there are local water quantity concerns. It is exploited for multiple uses, including domestic and municipal. There is a high demand for groundwater exploitation. Groundwater quality is good.
Physiography
Hydrogeological regionCordillera
Hydrogeological context
ReliefThe topography of the hydrogeological unit is flat and has none significant slope. Located in vicinity of Okanagan Lake, the unit has low elevations, ranging from 400 to 500 m.
Area70.00 km2
Lithology
DescriptionThe sand and gravel aquifer 464 consists of proglacial subaerial-subaqueous fan sediments. The deposits are covered by glaciolacustrine clay of 1-85 m (average 15 m). The unit overlies Okanagan Valley Fill sediments and the high lineament density bedrock. The bedrock doesn't directly underlie the sand and gravel aquifer.
Source
Aquifer
AquifersList of aquifer Sand and gravel aquifer (No. 464)

Unit properties

Surficial aquifer media
Typical value:porous
Description Sand and gravel
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Confinement
Typical value:confined
Description Confined by glaciolacustrine clay or till, thickness from 1 to 85 m (avg = 15 m). (Note that the prime difference between aquifer 463 and 464 is that the confining layer for 463 is on average 7 m thicker than 464)
Source Aquifer Information Table - Aquifer 464 (Sand and gravel aquifer)
Surficial sediment thickness
Range: [50 to 200] m
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Well depth
29 m Range: [3 to 155] m
Source Aquifer Information Table - Aquifer 464 (Sand and gravel aquifer)
Groundwater depth
6 m Range: [ to 20] m
Description There are some artesian wells.
Source Aquifer Information Table - Aquifer 464 (Sand and gravel aquifer)
Surficial unit hydraulic conductivity
0.0017 m/s
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Regional precipitation
381 mm/y
Description Average annual precipitation for Kelowna is 381 mm
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Regional recharge
Range: [8 to 37] mm/y
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Regional discharge
Description Okanagan Lake
Source Regional-Scale Groundwater Flow Model of the Kelowna Area and the Mission Creek Watershed, Central Okanagan, BC
Hydrogeological unit potential
Typical value:high
Description High productivity, but there are isolated groundwater quantity concerns
Source Aquifer Classification Database
Groundwater usage
Description Multiple water use and high demand
Source Aquifer Classification Database
Aquifer vulnerability
Typical value:low
Source Aquifer Classification Database