An Alberta-based company aiming to extract silica sand in Manitoba has formed a partnership with the largest university in the province to develop an experimental groundwater monitoring network. This collaboration involves using cutting-edge technology that experts consider increasingly vital for global groundwater studies.
Carla Devlin, the president of Sio Silica, stated that the company will collaborate with the University of Manitoba on a feasibility analysis and the creation of a technologically advanced, non-intrusive system capable of monitoring aquifer conditions in real-time. Devlin emphasized that this initiative is not solely for their project but also intended as a broader tool for responsible resource management in Manitoba.
The partnership arises as Sio Silica renews efforts to extract sand from the sandstone aquifer beneath the Rural Municipality of Springfield in southeastern Manitoba. In 2024, the company’s request for a sand extraction license was declined by the NDP government due to concerns regarding potential impacts on drinking water quality and underground collapses.
Initially, Sio Silica had proposed drilling 7,200 wells east and southeast of Winnipeg over a 25-year period to extract sought-after silica sand used in various industries. However, community opposition citing environmental worries and fears of water contamination led to a revised plan with fewer wells and reduced sand extraction in a subsequent license application.
According to Devlin, the collaboration with the university is distinct from their license pursuit but signifies an additional level of transparency for the project’s future advancements. When asked about addressing past concerns through this partnership, Devlin highlighted that the research project’s primary focus is to comprehend the aquifer as a holistic system.
The research project, labeled a “game changer” by Sio Silica’s technology team, will involve studying the southern Manitoba aquifer comprehensively to generate an extensive groundwater database. Ricardo Mantilla, an associate professor at the University of Manitoba leading the project, explained that they will utilize quantum gravimetry to measure changes in the ground’s gravitational field as groundwater moves.
Mantilla clarified that while the technology can ascertain groundwater quantities, it does not assess water quality. He stressed the significance of the research not only for Sio Silica’s operations but also for Manitoba as a whole, where interactions between surface water and groundwater play a crucial role in the province’s water circulation.
Landon Halloran, a hydrogeologist and hydrogeophysicist, noted the global advancements in using quantum gravimetry for groundwater monitoring. He pointed out that NASA’s Grace Follow-On satellites employ gravimetry to track water level changes worldwide. Halloran highlighted the potential of gravimetry to reduce the need for costly groundwater monitoring wells, aligning with Sio Silica’s aim to minimize drilling activities.
Groundwater, as termed by Halloran, is an “invisible water resource” that requires attention and protection due to its role in the water cycle and as a vital drinking water source. The emphasis remains on safeguarding and monitoring these essential groundwater resources.
