Monitoring aquifers: Provincial Groundwater Observation Well Network

Last updated on December 11, 2025

The Provincial Groundwater Observation Well Network program collects and reports information about groundwater quantity and chemistry.

Groundwater level monitoring

Within the Provincial network, groundwater levels are continuously monitored using pressure transducers. Almost two-thirds of the observation wells in the network transmit information through satellite telemetry, allowing decision makers and the public to observe groundwater levels as they rise and fall in near real-time.

The photograph on the right shows a provincial groundwater observation well equipped with a datalogger and telemetry equipment.

Find out more information about the program and groundwater data:

A provincial groundwater observation well equipped with a data logger and telemetry equipment.

Groundwater level data interactive map

Find groundwater level data collected from observation wells throughout the provincial network using this interactive map, or browse through the list of active observation wells.

Real-time water data tool

Use this map-based tool to display locations of monitoring stations, export data, create and view charts and reports.

Interested users can:

View data from snow, groundwater, and hydrometric stations
Create custom charts of the data
Download data in various formats

British Columbia Drought Information Portal

Drought is a water shortage caused by climate over an extended period of time.

On the B.C. Drought Information Portal (DIP), drought levels and other data are updated regularly as they become available.

A 'Groundwater Conditions' tab in this application includes data from the Provincial Groundwater Observation Well Network because groundwater and surface water are often hydraulically connected.

Regional groundwater level percentile reports are available through the B.C. Drought Information Portal.

You can also review these online resources:

Environmental Monitoring System

When new observation wells are added to the network, groundwater samples are collected and analyzed for nutrients, metals and general water chemistry. In some circumstances, a well may require more frequent sampling.

The results of all tests are publicly available in the Environmental Monitoring System (EMS) database.

Groundwater level monitoring of the provincial network is guided by the 'PGOWN Operations Manual and Standard Operating Procedures.' This is a resource for other groundwater monitoring programs.

This manual is specific to this monitoring program. It does not establish formal provincial standards.

Review the PGOWN Manual (PDF, 24MB).

Contact information

Groundwater@gov.bc.ca

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The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

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