An Alberta-based company aiming to mine silica sand in Manitoba has joined forces with the largest university in the province to develop an innovative groundwater monitoring network. This collaboration with the University of Manitoba will focus on creating a cutting-edge, non-intrusive system capable of monitoring aquifer conditions in real-time.
Carla Devlin, the president of Sio Silica, emphasized that the partnership aims to conduct a feasibility study and establish a scientifically robust monitoring system to oversee aquifer health. The initiative is not limited to the company’s mining project but is intended to serve as a broader tool for responsible resource management in Manitoba.
Sio Silica’s renewed interest in extracting sand from the sandstone aquifer beneath the Rural Municipality of Springfield has prompted this collaboration. The company previously faced rejection in 2024 when the NDP government declined their license request due to concerns regarding potential impacts on drinking water quality and underground stability issues.
In response to community opposition and environmental worries about their initial proposal involving drilling numerous wells, Sio Silica revised their plan to include fewer wells, a more gradual approach, and reduced sand extraction in their latest license application.
The partnership with the university, according to Devlin, signifies a new level of transparency for the project, separate from the environmental license renewal process. Devlin believes that this research endeavor will contribute to a better understanding of the aquifer as a whole and ensure that decisions are based on scientific data, transparency, and sustainable resource management practices.
The research project, labeled a “game changer” by Sio Silica’s technology team, will involve studying the southern Manitoba aquifer comprehensively. This endeavor will generate a comprehensive groundwater database, a task that would cost the government a substantial amount to replicate.
Ricardo Mantilla, an associate professor at the University of Manitoba leading the research project, highlighted the use of quantum gravimetry to measure changes in the gravitational field caused by groundwater movements. While this technology can quantify groundwater amounts, it cannot assess water quality.
Although the research is crucial for Sio Silica’s future operations in Manitoba, Mantilla emphasized its broader significance for the province. Understanding the interactions between surface water and groundwater is vital for managing the water circulation within Manitoba’s ecosystem.
Landon Halloran, a hydrogeologist and hydrogeophysicist, noted that quantum gravimetry has been instrumental in developing new groundwater monitoring devices globally. This technology, while beneficial for large-scale assessments like NASA’s Grace Follow-On satellites, may not offer the necessary resolution for localized issues.
Halloran suggested that gravimetry could potentially reduce the need for costly groundwater monitoring wells, aligning with Sio Silica’s revised approach of drilling fewer wells. Groundwater, as an essential but often overlooked resource, requires protection and monitoring to safeguard its role in the water cycle and as a primary source of drinking water.