What’s Under UVic Campus?
Drilling Groundwater Wells for Research and Teaching
UVic’s Groundwater Science and Sustainability research group drilled two new research wells to better understand the groundwater and aquifers below campus, and how groundwater is connected to Hobbs Creek in Mystic Vale.
Consistent with the UVic’s Territory Acknowledgement and the recognition of the sacred importance land and water to Indigenous Peoples, Elders Doug and Kathy LaFortune offered a Blessing before drilling. Check out the recording if you would like to see this Blessing as an example for future field research projects.
The new wells are located near University House 4 and Mystic Vale and two other shallow wells that are used for teaching by the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences. One of the new wells is shallow (~30 m) in sands and silts, while the other is deep (~120 m) so that we can observe groundwater at different depths.
The new wells are located near University House 4 and Mystic Vale and two other shallow wells that are used for teaching by the School of Earth and Ocean Sciences. One of the new wells is shallow (~30 m) in sands and silts, while the other is deep (~120 m) so that we can observe groundwater at different depths.
What We Found During Drilling
Pictures of Samples Collected During Drilling
Pictures from Nearby Outcrops of What These Formations Look Like
Grass and soils from 0 -2 m below the ground surface.
Layers of silt and sand from 2 m to ~ 42 m below the ground surface.
Grey clay from ~ 42 m to about ~52 below the ground surface.
Grey and green bedrock from ~52 below the ground surface to the bottom of the well at 100 m.
What We Found During Drilling
Pictures of Samples Collected During Drilling
Grass and soils from 0 -2 m below the ground surface.
Layers of silt and sand from 2 m to ~ 42 m below the ground surface.
Grey clay from ~ 42 m to about ~52 below the ground surface.
Grey and green bedrock from ~52 below the ground surface to the bottom of the well at 100 m.
Pictures from Nearby Outcrops of What These Formations Look Like
Grass and soils from 0 -2 m below the ground surface.
Layers of silt and sand from 2 m to ~ 42 m below the ground surface.
Grey clay from ~ 42 m to about ~52 below the ground surface.
Grey and green bedrock from ~52 below the ground surface to the bottom of the well at 100 m.
And Even Deeper Levels of Information
For more information about the wells visit the BC Water Well database for these wells:
65825 (deepest well)
65826 (new shallow well)
81694 (older shallow well near road)
81693 (older shallow well away from road)
or come check out the wells near University House 4 an using these pictures….
Or travel down the wells to see underground with downhole camera video