Groundwater Connections

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Welcome! This is a hub to connect residents in the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) with resources and information about their aquifers and groundwater sustainability.

Groundwater connects us - neighbours, communities and the environment.

The RDN is located on the central east coast of Vancouver Island and is located within the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nations. Communities within the region include the municipalities of Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, as well as seven unincorporated Electoral Areas. The RDN is home to over 170,000 people. About half of residents in our region rely on groundwater for their water supply. Municipalities, Regional District water services, improvement districts, small water system operators and private well owners use groundwater wells to access water from regional aquifers.

How groundwater connects us

Water is always on the move. Surface water within lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands, as well as groundwater within aquifers underground, are part of a system that continually cycles water between the atmosphere, the surface of the earth and below ground. Groundwater, though often hidden, is a dynamic connector. It stitches together our environment and communities, flowing quietly beneath our feet yet playing a pivotal role in sustaining ecosystems and supporting our livelihoods and communities.

What is an aquifer?

An aquifer is an underground layer of permeable rock, sand, or gravel that stores and transports groundwater. Aquifers can be defined as Bedrock Aquifers or Sand and Gravel Aquifers.

On this page, you can find information and resources about groundwater and groundwater sustainability in the region:

Subscribe to this page to receive notification of updates on the latest blog posts sharing stories, studies and events!


The Regional District of Nanaimo’s Drinking Water & Watershed Protection program's vision is for healthy, safe and resilient water resources in the region. Learn more about Drinking Water & Watershed Protection at dwwp.ca(External link).

Welcome! This is a hub to connect residents in the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) with resources and information about their aquifers and groundwater sustainability.

Groundwater connects us - neighbours, communities and the environment.

The RDN is located on the central east coast of Vancouver Island and is located within the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nations. Communities within the region include the municipalities of Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach, as well as seven unincorporated Electoral Areas. The RDN is home to over 170,000 people. About half of residents in our region rely on groundwater for their water supply. Municipalities, Regional District water services, improvement districts, small water system operators and private well owners use groundwater wells to access water from regional aquifers.

How groundwater connects us

Water is always on the move. Surface water within lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands, as well as groundwater within aquifers underground, are part of a system that continually cycles water between the atmosphere, the surface of the earth and below ground. Groundwater, though often hidden, is a dynamic connector. It stitches together our environment and communities, flowing quietly beneath our feet yet playing a pivotal role in sustaining ecosystems and supporting our livelihoods and communities.

What is an aquifer?

An aquifer is an underground layer of permeable rock, sand, or gravel that stores and transports groundwater. Aquifers can be defined as Bedrock Aquifers or Sand and Gravel Aquifers.

On this page, you can find information and resources about groundwater and groundwater sustainability in the region:

Subscribe to this page to receive notification of updates on the latest blog posts sharing stories, studies and events!


The Regional District of Nanaimo’s Drinking Water & Watershed Protection program's vision is for healthy, safe and resilient water resources in the region. Learn more about Drinking Water & Watershed Protection at dwwp.ca(External link).

Page last updated: 03 Apr 2025, 11:09 AM