The Waterloo Moraine is a landform and sediment body that was created as a moraine in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, in Ontario, Canada. It covers a large portion of the cities of Waterloo and Kitchener and the township of Wilmot, and some parts of the townships of Wellesley and North Dumfries. About 90% of the water supply of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo is derived from groundwater of the Waterloo Moraine aquifer system.

During late 1989 and early 1990, groundwater contamination in Elmira forced the Region to shut down some well fields. As a result, new land use management guidelines and water protection measures have been enacted.

The Waterloo Moraine is the largest of fourteen moraines in the Region, spanning approximately 400 square kilometres. It is an interlobate moraine, consisting primarily of sand and gravel. It contains large aquifers, which discharge into the Grand River and its tributaries and maintain a base water flow rate into that system.

Origin

The Waterloo Moraine was formed as the three ice lobes of the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated across what is now Waterloo Region from Lake Huron in the west, Georgian Bay in the northeast, Lake Ontario in the east and Lake Erie in the southeast. and approximately 75% of its potable water. This resulted in a 16-month review of source water and groundwater protection for the Waterloo Moraine. The findings were to be published in September 2008.

Function

In the vicinity where the three ice lobes began to retreat, sits the recharge areas that allow surface water to enter back into the ground source. The speed of absorption depends on the density of aquifers and aquitards. Aquifers are made up of sand, gravel and silt where the water filters down relatively quickly. The shallow aquifers feed area bodies of water such as creeks and streams while the deeper aquifers feed down to replenish the ground water. The aquitards are the protective layers of clay that slowly filters the water and act to protect the main source from contamination. Left on its own, it is a naturally renewable way to gather fresh drinking water.

Ground water recharge

The moraine covers much of the City of Waterloo, Kitchener, Wellesley, Wilmot and North Dumfries, covering of land. Road salt is a form of chloride that kills fish and pollutes area creeks and streams.

References

  • Professor Alan Morgan speaks of the History of the Waterloo Moraine
  • Road Salt Danger to the Waterloo Moraine
  • International Ground Water Expert Emil Frind Speaks out to protect the Waterloo Moraine
  • Grand River Conservation Authority's Water Forum Review 2004