Foothills County Water Well Depth & Hydrogeology
Regional groundwater summary • GWDrill Historical Log Extraction
Bottom Line Up Front
In Foothills County the median well is 140 feet deep and draws from Shale / Siltstone bedrock, which supplies 75% of wells here. Water is very hard at about 325 mg/L, so a softener is standard equipment. Rotary drilling is routine and 94% of wells serve ordinary household use. Treatment emphasis: elevated tds, sulfate, potential hydrogen sulfide (h2s). Fine shale layers raise sulfate and sulfide concerns.
Modelled Well Depth
140 FT
Median for this area. Typical range 90–205 ft.
Est. Completion Cost
$12,540 CAD
$90/ft effective rate (includes fixed $1,900 mobilization & pump installation).
Water Hardness
325 MG/L
Very Hard. Elevated TDS, sulfate, potential hydrogen sulfide (H2S).
Pump class at this depth: 3/4 HP submersible, 4" casing
Adjust Target Depth
Drag the yellow indicator across the strata bar
Well Statistics
Local measurements compared against Alberta provincial benchmarks.
| Hydrogeological Metric | Local Measurement | AB Provincial Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Total Registered Wells | 19,697 | 1,420 avg per RM |
| Median Well Depth | 140 ft | 118 ft provincial median |
| Average Well Depth | 159.1 ft | 137.1 ft provincial average |
| Recorded Depth Range | 2 – 1485 ft | 2 – 1,201 ft recorded range |
| Dominant Aquifer | Shale / Siltstone | Mixed glacial till province-wide |
| Estimated Water Hardness | 325 mg/L — Very Hard | 210 mg/L provincial average |
| Est. Drilling Cost Range | $6,610 – $17,260 CAD | $110/ft plus mobilization |
| Domestic Household Use | 94% of wells | 88% province-wide |
Where This Report Applies
Approximate boundary of Foothills County
Shaded area is an approximate municipal outline for orientation only. Well records are aggregated across the entire Foothills County.
Depth Distribution
Most completed wells fall near the median depth of 140 ft.
Median depth of 140 ft falls inside the reported range. Deeper completions here usually mean higher mineral content but steadier year-round pressure.
Aquifer Composition
Bedrock and drift aquifers recorded by drillers in this area.
14,773 wells Fractured Cretaceous shale formation prominent in western Manitoba. Characterized by high total dissolved solids (TDS) and potential sulfur/iron compounds.
2,955 wells Shallow to intermediate glacial drift aquifer deposited in alluvial channels or outwash plains. Yields softer water but requires continuous sediment filtration and shallow bacterial monitoring.
1,970 wells Unclassified hydrogeological formation from legacy provincial drill records.
Water Quality Profile
Estimated hardness, mineral risks and treatment implications.
Total Hardness
Very Hard325 MG/L
as CaCO3, Health Canada scale
Present Mineral Risk
- Scale build-up in kettles, heaters and fixtures
- Dissolved iron and manganese staining
- Elevated calcium and magnesium from Shale / Siltstone bedrock
Test before purchasing treatment. Hardness varies well to well within the same quarter section.
Size custom treatment system for this waterDrilling Activity
Historical permit and construction activity by decade.
63% of wells are over 30 years old. Steel casing installed before 1995 can lose integrity, so any older well should get a casing inspection and a bacterial test before you rely on it.
Data-Driven Prescription
The treatment system this water needs
Generated from 325 mg/L hardness, shale / siltstone and a 140 ft median completion depth, for a four-person household. Adjust the assumptions in the builder.
Equipment Total
$2,039
Annual Consumables
$489
Softener Sizing
52,000 gr
Water Testing
Tap Score Canadian Essential Water Test
Nothing gets sized without numbers. Regional modelling puts hardness near 325 mg/L in shale / siltstone, but your own well can sit well off that median.
- Sizing
- Accredited lab panel: hardness, iron, manganese, nitrate, arsenic, total coliform and E. coli
- Equipment
- $349 CAD
- Annual Consumables
- $349 CAD
Whole-Home Softening
SpringWell SS1 48,000 Grain Whole-Home Softener
At 325 mg/L (very hard) a 4-person household loads roughly 5.7k grains of hardness per day onto the plumbing.
- Sizing
- 52,000 grain metered capacity — about a 7-day regeneration cycle with reserve
- Equipment
- $1,690 CAD
- Annual Consumables
- $140 CAD
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about water wells in Foothills County.
How deep are water wells in Foothills County?
The average water well in Foothills County, AB is 159.1 feet deep. Most wells range between 90.0 and 205.0 feet.
What is the primary aquifer in Foothills County?
The most common aquifer tapped by drillers in Foothills County is Shale / Siltstone.