Regional groundwater summary • Alberta Historical Log Extraction
Bottom Line Up Front
In Calgary, the median completed well is 130 ft deep.
A published hardness range for this place and aquifer is 12–288 mg/L as CaCO₃. That is a regional estimate, not a test of your well. Source: Estimate based on Alberta Health private well data.
These municipal aggregates support planning only — they do not replace an accredited laboratory potability test for your own well.
Interactive Well Depth & Modeled Typical Strata
Drag the indicator line or tap a stratum below to read the recorded depth range
Modelled Depth
130 FT
Area median
Drilling cost
$9,100–$19,500
Estimate
Published hardness
12–288 mg/L as CaCO₃
Modeled typical strata — placeholder from median depth + aquifer type; not local driller logs.
Local measurements compared against Alberta provincial benchmarks.
| Hydrogeological Metric | From the registry or a cited study | AB Provincial Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Total Registered Wells | 2,319 | — |
| Median Well Depth | 130 ft | 121 ft provincial median |
| Average Well Depth | 148.4 ft | — |
| Recorded Depth Range | 2 – 1301 ft | — |
| Hardness | 12–288 mg/L as CaCO₃ — Estimate. Estimate based on Alberta Health private well data | — |
| Drilling cost | $9,100–$19,500 — Estimate. Typical drilling prices in Canada, about $70–$150 per foot | — |
| Domestic Household Use | 82% of wells | — |
Approximate boundary of Calgary
Shaded area is an approximate municipal outline for orientation only. Well records are aggregated across the entire Calgary.
Most completed wells fall near the median depth of 130 ft. Recorded depths cover 2,122 wells.
Median depth of 130 ft falls inside the reported range. Deeper completions here usually mean higher mineral content but steadier year-round pressure.
Bedrock and drift aquifers recorded by drillers in this area.
374 holes found no usable water. test holes, observation or monitoring wells, dewatering wells, decommissioned wells, dry holes, no-aquifer holes, and other non-supply wells filtered out of the headline
A published hardness range, when one exists for this place and aquifer. Not a test of your well.
Measured nearby
Measured government tests within 25 km of Calgary.
USGS (2018) bands reprinted by Health Canada. A range can cross more than one band. This is not a sample.
What this is not
Health Canada has not set a maximum acceptable concentration for hardness. A wide published range can sit in more than one USGS band.
Survey section: Section 10, Township 24, Range 1, West of the 5th Meridian, 0.5 km away, nearby.
1 government lab test, dated 2007.
These results are old (tested 2007).
Hardness 417 mg/L as CaCO₃ (1 test).
1 test is above 180 mg/L.
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 1 government lab test.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Domestic Well Water Quality in Alberta: Routine Chemistry, 2001 to 2021 Open Government Licence - Alberta
Survey section: Section 16, Township 24, Range 1, West of the 5th Meridian, 1.84 km away, nearby.
1 government lab test, dated 2008.
These results are old (tested 2008).
Hardness 165 mg/L as CaCO₃ (1 test).
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 1 government lab test.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Domestic Well Water Quality in Alberta: Routine Chemistry, 2001 to 2021 Open Government Licence - Alberta
Survey section: Section 33, Township 23, Range 1, West of the 5th Meridian, 3.6 km away, nearby.
1 government lab test, dated 2017.
Hardness 35 mg/L as CaCO₃ (1 test).
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 1 government lab test.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Domestic Well Water Quality in Alberta: Routine Chemistry, 2001 to 2021 Open Government Licence - Alberta
Historical permit and construction activity by decade.
74% of dated wells are over 30 years old (pre-1995). Steel casing installed before 1995 can lose integrity over time. Any older well should get a casing inspection and a certified bacterial test before reliance.
Treatment
This page does not turn a hardness range or a well depth into an equipment total, a grain capacity, or a drilling price. Read the methodology, the filtration guide, and the products catalog.
Suggested system
Test kit
estimate, confirm with a lab testA test of your own well comes before any equipment. Test for coliform bacteria.
Water testingWater softener
estimate, confirm with a lab testSome wells nearby test above 120 mg/L, a softener may help, confirm with a lab test. 1 test is above 180 mg/L.
Hard-water guideBecause water wells in Calgary average 130 ft, contractors equipped with heavy rotary rigs and proper casing seals are recommended. Contact local drillers directly or request competitive bids.
Yard: Rocky View County, AB (17.6 km away)
Yard: Black Diamond, AB (39.8 km away)
Yard: Strathmore, AB (46.5 km away)
Yard: Red Deer County, AB (144.5 km away)
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Quick answers about water wells in Calgary.
Among 2122 producing water wells with a recorded depth, the median is 130.0 ft (39.624 m).
Explore neighbouring hydrogeological formations and compare drilling depths