Aquifer 560

The Town of Gibsons obtains all its potable water from a high-quality artesian aquifer (Aquifer 560) located below the Town and extending beyond the Town boundary into the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD).  The aquifer acts as a natural underground reservoir that holds and provides groundwater to our wells.

The watersheds (the water sources that fill the aquifer) include Charman Creek, Chaster Creek, Gibson Creek and Soames Creek. The headwaters for all four watersheds originate along the south facing slope of Mount Elphinstone at an elevation of greater than 1,100 metres above sea level and all drain into the Strait of Georgia.

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What does the aquifer provide?
Aquifer 560 provides all three water zones with drinking water of excellent quality.

100% of the Town of Gibsons depends on groundwater from the aquifer, which is pumped from three wells located in Lower Gibsons and one well in Upper Gibsons. In comparison, about 22% of British Columbians rely on groundwater.

Our confined aquifer is a pristine water source that won our town recognition at the 2005 Berkeley Spring International Water Tasting Contest as having the best drinking water in the world.

How is the Aquifer monitored?

The Town has extensive data to understand the movement and cycling of water in the Aquifer and is able to assess the long-term supply under various demand and climate conditions (see above). The Town’s annual monitoring program provides information on water level, water quality and recharging levels, tracking trends year to year.

The Town’s water distribution system monitors pumping volume from each well daily, and the well sensors provide staff with real-time data of the water level at each of the well locations, allowing staff to track changes within the aquifer continually.

Protecting our water source

The Town takes our stewardship of Aquifer 560 very seriously and has implemented several comprehensive programs to ensure its health in perpetuity.

Read about how the Town is working to protect the Aquifer  here.

How aquifers differ from surface water sources