P23-19 Alliston Groundwater Optimization Program
Background
The Town of New Tecumseth Water Supply, Distribution, and Storage Master Plan completed by R.V. Anderson and Associates Limited in 2016 has identified the need for additional groundwater supplies for the communities of Alliston, Beeton and Tottenham. This report is available under, “Plans, Studies, and Reports” on the Town website. The Town’s objective is to increase groundwater supply capacity and security of supply, to meet the projected water demands for the Town to horizon year 2031.
The following studies and investigations were conducted with the objective to identify opportunities to increase the groundwater supply capacity:
- 2016
- The 2016 Water Supply, Distribution, and Storage Master Plan identified the need to increase groundwater well supply by 3,900 cubic metres per day to address the water deficit and provide security of supply
- 2018
- This was the start of the EA process with CIMA+.
- A total of nineteen (19) potential test well sites were identified as part of a Groundwater Exploration Program.
- Based on well testing, it was concluded that the drilling program was unsuccessful in locating a suitable new groundwater supply with regard to preferred quantity and quality of groundwater
- 2021
- The Town completed a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) to address the supply deficit.
- The preferred alternative was to develop a new production well and treatment facility on the existing Hillcrest Well Site.
- The Class EA also noted additional strategies to be implemented with the preferred alternative, which included optimizing the existing groundwater system.
- Subsequently, the Hillcrest Well Site was thoroughly explored and deemed unsuitable as the desired yield was not achieved
- 2022/2023
- The Town conducted a Groundwater Well Optimization Study based on the Class EA to identify other opportunities to increase the groundwater supply capacity.
- 72-hour and 32-day Aquifer Tests completed.
- The study recommended that the firm capacity of the system could be increased by approximately 34 Litres per second if two (2) additional wells are constructed near the existing Well 5 site and Well 4/6 sites.
- The actual well yields should be confirmed through well testing. Additionally, the capacity of the existing Well 7 could potentially be increased by approximately 2 L/s to provide additional capacity to the overall system.
- 2024/2025
- In 2024 the Town retained R.V. Anderson Associates Limited and their hydrogeological team to continue with the works recommended in the Groundwater Well Optimization Study.
- In 2024 a Stage 1 & 2 Archaeological Assessment (AA) was completed for the Well 4 & 6 study area which found no archaeological items of interest. The archaeological assessment was entered into the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism (MCM) Ontario Public Register of Archaeological Reports.
- A technical study was completed in 2025 supporting the increase of capacity of Well 7 by approximately 2 Litres per second.
- As per the recommendations provided in the Groundwater Well Optimization Study, two (2) new production wells, Well 9 and Well 10, were installed at the Well 4/6 and Well 5 sites, respectively. Well 9 produced a yield of 34 L/s. Well 10 produced a yield of approximately 10 L/s.
- 2026
- Preliminary designs for the new Well 9 and Well 10 Facilities were completed. Considering Well 10 can only provide partial standby capacity, detailed design of the Well 10 facility will be deferred to a future planning horizon.
- Detailed design for the new Well 9 Facility is anticipated to be completed Q2 2026.
- Tendering and construction of the new Well 9 Facility and site upgrades are tentatively scheduled to commence Q3 2026.
Anticipated Timeline
Activities Timeline
