WSA Hearts Hill

Observation well WSA Hearts Hill was constructed in 1965 to a depth of 76.81 metres in fine to very fine grained bedrock sands of the upper Judith River Formation in the west-central part of Saskatchewan. The aquifer is overlain by bedrock shales of the Bearpaw Formation which act as a confining layer. A downward vertical gradient exists at the site and it is believed that vertical flow occurs down through the Bearpaw into the Judith River and that flow within the Judith then occurs laterally to the northeast.

The record high water level of about 681.6 metres occurred in 1971, but following that water levels in the well went into a long term decline ending in a record low level of 680.6 in 2004. The cause of this decline is unknown. Water levels have recovered somewhat and are around 681 metres. Typically, water levels reach their minimum in early fall followed by a maximum in early spring, with annual fluctuations of less than 0.2 metres. These seasonal fluctuations have been attributed to seasonal loading near the ground surface.

Water from WSA Hearts Hill is of the sodium-sulphate/bicarbonate type and has a Total Dissolved Solids concentration of approximately 2870 mg/L.