Water Aquifer

The water for the cavern mining process in Landis is sourced from the Sutherland Group Aquifer.

In the area of the source water wells, this aquifer is about 40 meters thick and is found 60 to 100 meters below the surface. The pumps in the source wells are set at about 55 metres below the surface, near the top of the Sutherland Group Aquifer. Before pumping was initiated, the static water level in the source wells was about 5 metres below surface.

Pumping from the source wells will begin in March 2008 at a combined rate of approximately 1,135 litres per minute (300 US gallons per minute). Within the following few months, this rate will gradually be increased to a maximum pumping rate of 4,542 litres per minute (1,200 US gallons per minute). TransGas will vary the pumping rates during the project, within the criteria set by Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. Drawdown of the aquifer will be closely monitored at the source well site and it will not exceed the depths the pumps are set at. By August 2010, all of the caverns are scheduled to be fully mined and pumping from the Sutherland Group Aquifer source wells will be complete.