The confinement describes the types of aquifer: confined, unconfined and semi-confined. Confined aquifer is bounded from above and below by impervious formations. Unconfined aquifer has a water table which serves as its upper boundary. Semi-confined aquifer is in between. Aquifer confinement is derived from geology, stratigraphy and hydrogeological unit thickness. The dataset represents the confinement assessment of the local area over the hydrogeological unit, from a controlled vocabulary.

The Aquifer Vulnerability Index (AVI) is a method of assessing the vulnerability of aquifers to surface contaminants in Alberta. An aquifer is a geological formation that is permeable enough to transmit sufficient quantities of water to possible to support the development of water wells. In the assessment of aquifer vulnerability to potential contamination, the depth to the aquifer and the types of geological materials above them are considered. For example, aquifers closer to the surface overlain with pervious surface materials are more vulnerable to contaminants, as compared to aquifers found deeper and covered with a thick layer of impervious material. The AVI ratings indicate the potential of surficial materials to transmit water withy contaminants to the aquifer over a period of time. This data was created in 2002 using ArcGIS.

Polygon features represent developed ground water aquifers in BC (that have been mapped). Most aquifer boundaries are delineated based on geology, hydrology and topographic information. Some aquifer boundaries stop at the border of BC mapsheet boundaries due to resource or data constraints at the time of mapping.

Spatial dataset of DRASTIC aquifer intrinsic vulnerability of groundwater for specific study areas in BC, as reported in technical summary reports which are made available through the BC government's Ecological Reports Catalogue (EcoCat). For the study areas covered by each report and a link to each report in EcoCat, please see the EcoCat Reports Index spatial dataset: https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/386396c7-befe-4357-8088-21f1834a2e76 For more information (including an explanation of the DRASTIC method) please see "A Guide to the Use of Intrinsic Aquifer Vulnerability Mapping" at https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/acat/public/viewReport.do?reportId=23346

Province wide spatial view showing aquifers designated as a Water Reservation. These Reserves set aside water in an aquifer specifically for future treaty obligations, and are formally established through Orders in Council issued by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, as authorized under Sections 39–41 of the Water Sustainability Act.

Point features showing the locations of groundwater wells with pumping test information and/or aquifer parameter data. Some wells may have more than one pumping test record. Further context regarding the pumping tests and analysis are provided with the well records in GWELLS (https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/gwells/).

A measure of the intrinsic susceptibility of an aquifer representing the tendency or likelihood for contaminants to reach a specified position in the groundwater system after introduction at some location above the uppermost aquifer. The method used to create the dataset is described in the metadata associated with the dataset. The dataset is a general assessment of the vulnerability of the hydrogeological unit considered as a whole. It features the local and regional qualifiers in a controlled vocabulary list referring to the extent where the vulnerability value is valid. Because the vulnerability is assessed using contextual indices linked to the regional hydrogeological settings, it is very unlikely to have an homogeneous range of data throughout the various hydrogeologic units across the country for this dataset. Hence, the vulnerability dataset will not qualify as an homogeneous dataset. A more generic reclassification using for examples three vulnerability classes could then be used to solve this problem. Each sub layers used to create the global vulnerability index can be provided along with the final vulnerability index map.

Spatial dataset of DRASTIC Aquifer Intrinsic Vulnerability study areas in BC, and which also serves as an index containing links to the technical summary reports stored in the BC Government's Ecological Reports Catalogue (EcoCat). For the DRASTIC Aquifer Intrinsic Vulnerability mapping data related to each report, please see https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/33bcf95c-6742-419d-a898-9b26109d6504 For more information (including an explanation of the DRASTIC method) please see "A Guide to the Use of Intrinsic Aquifer Vulnerability Mapping" at https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/acat/public/viewReport.do?reportId=23346

Hydraulic properties characterize a hydrogeological unit. The hydraulic properties considered for this dataset are the transmissivity, the hydraulic conductivity, the storage coefficient, the specific storage coefficient and the porosity. Hydraulic properties are estimated by performing aquifer tests (pumping tests, slug tests). The hydraulic tests and their duration are managed in this dataset. The methods used to create the dataset are described in the metadata associated with the dataset. The dataset exhibits a general description of hydraulic properties of the hydrogeological unit, including hydraulic test, total test duration, method and date. It includes numbers and/or ranges describing the aquifer tests results. Note that an alternate raster representation could be used in complement to the discrete point-based representation.

A hydrogeological unit is defined as any soil or rock unit or zone that by virtue of its hydraulic properties has a distinct influence on the storage or movement of groundwater. It is considered the main dataset from the GGP point of view. Hydrogeological units are ranked into five levels (from largest to smallest): 1) hydrogeological region, 2) hydrogeological context, 3) aquifer system, 4) hydrostratigraphic unit, and 5) aquifer. Here are formal definitions for these different types of hydrogeologic units. - Hydrogeological region Hydrogeological regions are areas in which the properties of sub-surface water, or groundwater, are broadly similar in geology, climate and topography. There are 9 such regions identified in Canada (ref?). - Hydrogeological context Hydrogeological contexts are units of reporting, conceptually narrower than regions, and are additionally delineated by physiographic and hydrogeological aspects. - Aquifer system ""A heterogeneous body of intercalated permeable and poorly permeable material that functions regionally as a water-yielding hydraulic unit; it comprises two or more permeable beds [aquifers] separated at least locally by aquitards [confining units] that impede groundwater movement but do not greatly affect the regional hydraulic continuity of the system"" (Poland et al., 1972). - Hydrostratigraphic unit (HSU) ""Body of sediment and/or rock characterized by ground water flow that can be demonstrated to be distinct under both unstressed (natural) and stressed (pumping) conditions, and is distinguishable from flow in other HSUs"" (Noyes et al.) - Aquifer ""A formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs"" (Lohman et al, 1972, p. 21). The rank attribute is used to specify the scope of the described unit. The general principle behind this specification is to allow the same data structure to apply to various types of hydrogeological units, from the local aquifer to the almost continental hydrogeological region. The dataset includes properties such as identification, physiography, geology, aquifer description and properties, water balance, groundwater use and risk. It features numerical values or a general description when no values are available. The description can also be used to add context to the numerical values. For each property, metadata identifying the source of the original data, links to similar data in GIN, and description of the processes, algorithms or methodology used to obtain these datasets will be available to complement the data. This dataset is designed to capture and represent a set of synthesized information pertaining to hydrogeological units through maps and succinct table reports. Some attributes (or properties) of the dataset are irrelevant depending of the rank of the unit. In general, this dataset is organised to include multiple properties associated with aquifers and larger hydrogeologic units. These properties are grouped into categories, which include identification, physiography, geology, aquifer description, water balance, groundwater use and risk. The numerical values associated with each of the properties can be used to create thematic maps; hence, the importance of using standardized units of measurement and definitions for these properties. When numerical values are not available, a general description may be supplied instead. The description can also be used to add context to the numerical values. Because this dataset is the cornerstone of the national view on groundwater, supplemental contextual information (metadata) must be part of the data. Thus, for each property, metadata identifying the source of the original data, links to similar data in GIN, and a description of the processes, algorithms or methodology used to obtain these datasets will be available to complement the data.