ISL then recommended drilling slightly deeper than planned to guarantee access to the prolific Empress Group Aquifer. Following this recommendation, when ISL was supervising the borehole drilling, the actual stratigraphy revealed that the bottom of the Empress Group was deeper than expected. In consultation with the water well driller, ISL advised drilling 165 m, 13 m deeper than planned, to the bottom of the aquifer to ensure the most efficient well possible. The well design was also altered to allow for the screening of the entire aquifer. This allowed Guernsey and the RM an opportunity to explore building a truck fill or providing water to surrounding municipalities. A step rate and 24-hour constant rate pumping test were completed at 5.4 L/s, resulting in less than 1% of the available head being used.

A groundwater sampling program was designed in consultation with ISL’s in-house water treatment engineers to allow for the future design of the water treatment plant. Lastly, a groundwater investigation report in support of a provincial Water Rights License was submitted to the Water Security Agency.

• The water well driller did not have sufficient screens or a large enough submersible pump readily available, delaying completion of the wells and the pumping test.
• The RM expressed a desire to tender the design of the future water treatment plant (WTP) but the scoped groundwater sampling program would not provide sufficient information for a detailed treatment plant tendering process.

• Scheduled staff to limit standby time and additional fees due to delays. Worked closely with the driller and the RM, enabling clear lines of communication to ensure everyone was informed of delays and able to efficiently schedule resources.
• ISL’s in-house Water and Wastewater, and Hydrogeology teams designed a groundwater sampling program to enable the future design of the WTP. The RM staff were appreciative of ISL’s ability to think ahead and advise on future work