Groundwater Monitoring

Understand groundwater conditions beneath your property with reliable sampling, clear interpretation and practical recommendations.

Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. provides groundwater monitoring and sampling services for commercial, industrial, agricultural and multi-residential properties throughout Alberta.

Whether you need an existing monitoring well sampled, ongoing assessment of known contamination or follow-up monitoring after remediation, we provide the information needed to evaluate groundwater conditions and plan your next steps.

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✓ Monitoring-well inspections, groundwater measurements and sampling
✓ Laboratory results evaluated against applicable environmental guidelines
✓ Groundwater monitoring services available throughout Alberta

Groundwater Information for Confident Property Decisions

Managing Environmental Concerns

Evaluate groundwater quality and track changes in contamination identified through previous environmental investigations.

Supporting Property Transactions

Provide current groundwater information to help owners, buyers and lenders assess outstanding environmental concerns.

Evaluating Remediation Progress

Monitor groundwater conditions following cleanup or treatment to help determine whether further action is warranted.

What Is Groundwater Monitoring?

Groundwater monitoring involves measuring groundwater conditions and collecting samples from monitoring wells to evaluate water quality beneath a property.

A monitoring program may include a single sampling event or repeated visits to assess changes over time. The scope depends on the property’s history, previous findings and the purpose of the investigation.

Groundwater samples are analyzed for substances relevant to the site’s environmental concerns. Results are evaluated alongside groundwater levels, well construction details and available historical information.

Monitoring can help assess whether contamination is present, whether concentrations are changing and whether additional investigation, remediation or continued monitoring is warranted.

Groundwater Monitoring May Include:

✓ Review of previous environmental reports
✓ Inspection of accessible monitoring wells
✓ Groundwater-level measurements
✓ Checks for separate-phase petroleum product, where relevant
✓ Well purging and groundwater sampling
✓ Field water-quality measurements, where appropriate
✓ Laboratory analysis of selected contaminants
✓ Comparison with applicable environmental guidelines
✓ Evaluation of historical results and trends
✓ Clear reporting and recommendations

Important: Results represent conditions at the sampled wells and the time of sampling. The monitoring network must be suitable for the questions being investigated.

What Does Groundwater Monitoring Include?

Review and Monitoring Planning

We review previous reports, well records and analytical results to understand the site’s environmental concerns and develop an appropriate sampling scope.

Monitoring-Well Inspection

Accessible wells are checked for visible damage, missing caps, access issues and other conditions that could affect sampling or the reliability of the results.

Groundwater-Level Measurements

Depth to groundwater is measured at selected wells. Where sufficient suitable wells and surveyed elevations are available, measurements can help assess groundwater elevations and interpret the likely direction of groundwater flow.

Groundwater Sampling

Wells are purged and sampled using methods suited to the well conditions, contaminants and project objectives. Samples are collected, preserved and handled to meet the applicable laboratory requirements.

Laboratory Analysis

Samples are submitted to an accredited laboratory for testing relevant to the site. Analyses may include petroleum hydrocarbons, solvents, metals or other substances associated with current or historical activities.

Results and Recommendations

Results are evaluated against applicable environmental guidelines and compared with previous data where available. The report explains the findings, limitations and any recommended monitoring, investigation or remediation.

When Do You Need Groundwater Monitoring?

Groundwater monitoring may be needed when:

A Phase II ESA identifies groundwater contamination
Existing monitoring wells require follow-up sampling
A lender requests updated groundwater information
A property is being purchased, sold or refinanced with unresolved environmental concerns
A historical fuel leak or spill may have affected groundwater
Contamination from a neighbouring property may have affected the site
Additional information is needed to assess contaminant movement
Remediation or treatment performance needs to be evaluated
A site-specific risk-management plan includes ongoing monitoring
Regulatory requirements or project commitments call for groundwater assessment
Previous results require confirmation or further investigation

A planned monitoring program helps property owners understand changing conditions and make informed decisions about further work.

Need Updated Groundwater Results for a Deadline?

Send us the property address, available environmental reports, monitoring-well information and your required completion date.

We will provide a clear proposal outlining the sampling scope, laboratory analyses, cost and scheduling availability.

Site access, well condition, water availability and laboratory turnaround can affect completion time. Sharing your deadline early helps us plan the work.

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Environmental Concerns Groundwater Monitoring Can Evaluate

Groundwater contamination may persist after a historical spill or leak and may extend beyond the original release area. It is not necessarily visible at the surface.

Monitoring can evaluate concerns associated with:

Underground and aboveground fuel storage tanks
Former gas stations and bulk fuel facilities
Petroleum spills and historical fuel handling
Automotive repair and equipment-maintenance areas
Dry-cleaning operations and solvent releases
Industrial chemical handling
Waste oil storage and disposal
Pesticide and fertilizer storage
Historical waste-disposal areas
Potential contamination originating from neighbouring properties
Residual contamination following remediation

Laboratory testing is selected for the identified concerns. Not every site requires analysis for every contaminant.

Does Groundwater Monitoring Remove Contamination?

No. Monitoring measures and evaluates groundwater conditions. It does not, by itself, remove or treat contamination.

The findings may support continued monitoring, additional investigation, remediation or risk management, depending on the site.

Where natural attenuation is being considered, repeated sampling alone is not sufficient to establish that it is an appropriate solution. Supporting evidence and a suitable assessment are needed.

Nexus explains what the results establish and what additional information may be required.

Why Choose Nexus Environmental?

Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. is an Alberta-based environmental consulting company providing groundwater sampling, contaminated-site assessment and remediation support.

Experienced Field Assessment

Our groundwater work draws on practical experience with monitoring wells, subsurface investigations and contaminated commercial and industrial properties.

Site-Specific Sampling

Sampling methods and laboratory analyses are selected around the property’s environmental concerns, well conditions and monitoring objectives.

Clear Communication

You communicate directly with the environmental professional completing the work. We explain the findings and their implications in straightforward language.

Useful Reporting

Reports document groundwater measurements, sampling methods, laboratory results and assessment limitations so owners and intended report users can understand the findings.

Practical Recommendations

Recommendations consider the available evidence and remaining uncertainties. We explain why continued monitoring or additional work may be warranted.

Complete Environmental Support

Nexus also provides Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, contamination delineation, monitoring-well installation coordination, soil and groundwater remediation, and vapour intrusion assessments.

Groundwater Monitoring Services Across Alberta

Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. provides groundwater monitoring and sampling services throughout Alberta.

Based in Lethbridge, we serve clients in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, Brooks, Taber, Fort Macleod, Claresholm, Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass and communities across the province.

We assist property owners, buyers, sellers, developers, lenders and project teams with groundwater assessment in urban and rural Alberta.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between Groundwater Sampling and Monitoring?

Groundwater sampling involves collecting water for laboratory analysis.

Groundwater monitoring is broader and may include well inspections, water-level measurements, sampling and repeated assessment to evaluate changes over time.

Can You Sample Wells Installed by Another Consultant?

Yes. Nexus can review available well records and previous reports to assess whether existing wells are suitable for the proposed work.

Well condition, construction details, location and the purpose of the investigation affect their suitability.

Do I Need New Monitoring Wells?

Not necessarily. Existing wells may be suitable if they are accessible, in adequate condition and positioned to address the investigation objectives.

New or replacement wells may be recommended where the existing network does not provide sufficient information.

What If a Monitoring Well Is Dry?

A groundwater sample cannot be collected if insufficient water is available.

We document the conditions and assess whether a later visit, additional measurements or changes to the investigation are warranted. A dry well does not establish that groundwater contamination is absent.

How Often Should Groundwater Be Sampled?

There is no single schedule suitable for every property.

Frequency depends on the contaminants, groundwater conditions, previous results, monitoring objectives and any applicable regulatory or project requirements. Some sites require seasonal monitoring, while others may need a different schedule.

Can One Sampling Event Show Whether Conditions Are Improving?

A single event provides information about conditions at that time. Assessing improvement generally requires comparable results from multiple events, with consideration of seasonal variation and other factors that affect concentrations.

Which Environmental Guidelines Apply?

Groundwater results are commonly evaluated against applicable Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines.

A Tier 2 approach may be appropriate where supported by site-specific information. Guideline selection considers factors such as land use, exposure pathways and the purpose of the assessment.

Does Groundwater Monitoring Test Whether Water Is Safe to Drink?

Not normally. Contaminated-site monitoring targets substances associated with the property’s environmental concerns.

Drinking-water testing requires a separate scope and appropriate comparison criteria. If potability is your concern, let us know when requesting a quote.

Does Groundwater Contamination Mean Excavation Is Required?

No. The appropriate response depends on the source, contaminants, extent of impacts and potential exposure pathways.

Options may include further investigation, source removal, groundwater treatment, monitoring or a supported risk-management approach.

Can Groundwater Monitoring Confirm Regulatory Closure?

Monitoring can provide evidence relevant to closure, but a sampling report does not itself constitute regulatory approval or a government-issued remediation certificate.

Any formal closure objective should be discussed when planning the program.

How Long Does Groundwater Monitoring Take?

Timing depends on the number of wells, their condition and accessibility, sampling requirements and laboratory turnaround.

Ongoing programs also depend on the agreed monitoring schedule. Provide your required completion date when requesting a quote.

How Much Does Groundwater Monitoring Cost?

The cost depends on the property’s location, number of wells, sampling methods, laboratory analyses, reporting requirements and whether repeated visits are needed.

Send Nexus the available well information and previous reports to receive a project-specific quote.

What Information Is Needed for a Quote?

Provide the property address, number and locations of monitoring wells, available environmental reports, the reason for the work and your required completion date.

Information about site access, damaged wells and the lender or intended report user is also helpful.

Understand Your Property’s Groundwater Conditions

Whether you need updated sampling results, ongoing monitoring or follow-up assessment after remediation, Nexus Environmental Services Ltd. can help you understand the findings and plan your next steps.

Send us the property address, available monitoring-well information and your required completion date to receive a straightforward groundwater monitoring proposal.