An Alberta-based company looking to mine silica sand in Manitoba has joined forces with the largest university in the province to collaborate on developing a cutting-edge groundwater monitoring network. This initiative, utilizing advanced technology highly valued in global groundwater research, is aimed at establishing a real-time system to monitor aquifer conditions.
Carla Devlin, the president of Sio Silica, revealed that the company will engage in a partnership with the University of Manitoba to conduct a feasibility study and create a scientifically robust, non-intrusive monitoring system capable of tracking aquifer health continuously. Devlin emphasized that the project’s scope extends beyond their mining operations to contribute to responsible resource management across Manitoba.
The collaboration follows Sio Silica’s recent efforts to extract sand from the sandstone aquifer beneath the Rural Municipality of Springfield in southeastern Manitoba. In 2024, the company’s initial proposal to drill 7,200 wells in the region and extract significant amounts of silica sand faced rejection by the NDP government due to concerns about potential impacts on water quality and underground stability issues.
In response to community opposition related to environmental worries and potential water contamination risks, Sio Silica revised its plan to involve fewer wells, a more gradual extraction process, and a reduced sand output in its renewed application for an environmental license last year.
Devlin clarified that the partnership with the university is distinct from their license application but signifies a commitment to enhanced transparency moving forward. When asked about addressing past concerns regarding the license, Devlin stressed that the research project aims to comprehensively understand the aquifer’s dynamics.
Describing the research project as a significant advancement, Sio Silica’s technology team, as noted by Devlin, views it as a groundbreaking initiative. The project, led by Ricardo Mantilla, an associate professor at the University of Manitoba, will leverage quantum gravimetry to measure changes in the gravitational field of the ground as groundwater shifts.
Mantilla explained that gravimetry technology, which assesses the gravity experienced at a location to determine water quantities, offers vital insights into groundwater movements. While this technology focuses on groundwater amounts rather than water quality, it plays a crucial role in understanding the interactions between surface and groundwater in the province’s hydrological system.
According to Landon Halloran, a hydrogeologist and hydrogeophysicist at the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland, quantum gravimetry has been instrumental in developing advanced groundwater monitoring devices globally in recent years. Although this technology excels at monitoring large-scale water level changes, it may not provide the necessary spatial resolution for localized issues.
Halloran highlighted the potential cost savings and efficiency gains of gravimetry in monitoring groundwater, aligning with Sio Silica’s goal of reducing the number of wells drilled. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding and monitoring groundwater resources, considering their critical role in the water cycle and as a primary source of drinking water.