Regional groundwater summary • Ontario Historical Log Extraction
Bottom Line Up Front
In Ottawa, the median completed well is 100 ft deep.
A published hardness range for this place and aquifer is under 60 to above 180 mg/L as CaCO₃. That is a regional estimate, not a test of your well. Source: Estimate based on Health Canada hardness bands.
Most production draws from Limestone (about 67% of local wells).
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
100 FT
Area median
Drilling cost
$7,000–$15,000
Estimate
Published hardness
under 60 to above 180 mg/L as CaCO₃
Modeled typical strata — placeholder from median depth + aquifer type; not local driller logs.
Local measurements compared against Ontario provincial benchmarks.
| Hydrogeological Metric | From the registry or a cited study | ON Provincial Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Total Registered Wells | 40,094 | — |
| Median Well Depth | 100 ft | 103 ft provincial median |
| Average Well Depth | 124.1 ft | — |
| Dominant Aquifer | Limestone | — |
| Hardness | under 60 to above 180 mg/L as CaCO₃ — Estimate. Estimate based on Health Canada hardness bands | — |
| Drilling cost | $7,000–$15,000 — Estimate. Typical drilling prices in Canada, about $70–$150 per foot | — |
| Domestic Household Use | 92% of wells | — |
Approximate boundary of Ottawa
Shaded area is an approximate municipal outline for orientation only. Well records are aggregated across the entire Ottawa.
Most completed wells fall near the median depth of 100 ft. Recorded depths cover 39,767 wells.
Median depth of 100 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. Recorded for 39,646 of these 40,094 wells.
26,763 of 40,094 Major regional bedrock aquifer formed by Ordovician/Silurian dolomite. Known for reliable, high-volume yields with elevated mineral hardness and dissolved calcium/magnesium carbonates.
5,117 of 40,094 Deep basal sandstone bedrock unit (including Winnipeg Formation). Supplies exceptionally stable yields; often exhibits moderate mineral hardness with silica-rich water.
2,948 of 40,094 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.
2,561 of 40,094 Fractured sedimentary shale formation (including Odanah / Pierre members). Characterized by high total dissolved solids (TDS) and potential sulfur/iron compounds.
1,715 of 40,094 Crystalline Canadian Shield rock. Yields soft, slightly acidic water with minimal dissolved solids, relying on secondary fracture networks for groundwater storage.
539 of 40,094 Impermeable glaciolacustrine clay and silt deposits formed in ancient glacial lakes. Acts as an effective regional aquitard confining underlying aquifers.
3 of 40,094 Unclassified hydrogeological formation from legacy provincial drill records.
14,919 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 Ottawa.
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.
RIDEAU, OTTAWA-CARLETON REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY, 7.74 km away, nearby.
20 government lab tests, dated 2003–2025.
Hardness 366–460 mg/L as CaCO₃, median 420.
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 20 government lab tests.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN): water chemistry and well locations Open Government Licence - Ontario
NEPEAN, OTTAWA-CARLETON REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY, 9.99 km away, nearby.
3 government lab tests, dated 2002–2015.
Hardness 101–110 mg/L as CaCO₃, median 109.3.
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 3 government lab tests.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN): water chemistry and well locations Open Government Licence - Ontario
NEPEAN, OTTAWA-CARLETON REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY, 9.99 km away, nearby.
11 government lab tests, dated 2003–2016.
Hardness 66–140 mg/L as CaCO₃, median 122.6.
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 11 government lab tests.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN): water chemistry and well locations Open Government Licence - Ontario
1 well tested, 335 mg/L as CaCO₃ (1 test).
5.65 km away, nearby.
Tests dated 2003.
These results are old (tested 2003).
1 well tests 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
Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN): water chemistry and well locations Open Government Licence - Ontario
Historical permit and construction activity by decade.
67% 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 testingIron and manganese filter
estimate, confirm with a lab testManganese above the aesthetic objective, consider an iron/manganese filter. One monitoring well near this place has median manganese of 0.0586 mg/L. Another has median manganese of 0.0254 mg/L.
Iron and manganese guideWater softener
estimate, confirm with a lab testA softener is likely needed. The nearest monitoring well has a median hardness of 420 mg/L as CaCO₃.
Hard-water guideBecause water wells in Ottawa average 100 ft into limestone, contractors equipped with heavy rotary rigs and proper casing seals are recommended. Contact local drillers directly or request competitive bids.
Yard: Richmond, ON (14.4 km away)
Yard: Verona, ON (118 km away)
Yard: Fenelon Falls, ON (249.9 km away)
Yard: Barrie, ON (323.5 km away)
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Quick answers about water wells in Ottawa.
Among 39767 producing water wells with a recorded depth, the median is 100.0 ft (30.48 m).
Explore neighbouring hydrogeological formations and compare drilling depths