An Alberta-based company that has put forward plans to mine silica sand in Manitoba is collaborating with the largest university in the province on developing an experimental groundwater monitoring network. This initiative involves utilizing cutting-edge technology that experts believe is increasingly vital for global groundwater research.
President of Sio Silica, Carla Devlin, stated that the mining company will partner with the University of Manitoba to conduct a feasibility study and create a technologically advanced, non-intrusive system capable of monitoring aquifer health in real-time. Devlin emphasized that the objective is not limited to their project alone but aims to contribute to responsible resource management throughout the province.
The collaboration has emerged as Sio Silica intensifies its endeavors to extract sand from the sandstone aquifer situated beneath the Rural Municipality of Springfield in southeastern Manitoba. In 2024, the NDP government rejected Sio Silica’s license application to extract sand from the aquifer due to concerns surrounding potential impacts on drinking water quality and risks of subsurface collapses.
Initially, Sio Silica proposed a plan involving drilling 7,200 wells to the east and southeast of Winnipeg over a 25-year period to extract valuable silica sand used in various industries. However, the proposal faced opposition from the community over environmental apprehensions, particularly regarding the potential contamination of drinking water from the wells.
In response to the opposition, Sio Silica adjusted its strategy by proposing fewer wells, gradual progression, and reduced sand extraction in a renewed bid for an environmental license last year. According to Devlin, the partnership with the university is distinct from the company’s license application but signifies a commitment to enhanced transparency in the project’s future development.
Devlin expressed confidence that the research collaboration will help address previous concerns regarding the license request by focusing on gaining comprehensive insights into the aquifer’s functioning. She emphasized the significance of supporting advanced monitoring techniques and open data to ensure that decisions are guided by scientific evidence, transparency, and sustainable stewardship.
Sio Silica’s technology team views the research project as groundbreaking, with Devlin stating that it will offer a holistic examination of the southern Manitoba aquifer, generating an extensive groundwater database that would be costly for the government to replicate.
University of Manitoba’s associate professor, Ricardo Mantilla, leading the research project, highlighted the use of quantum gravimetry to measure changes in the ground’s gravitational field as groundwater moves. While this technology can quantify groundwater quantities, it does not assess water quality. Mantilla underscored the project’s broader significance for Manitoba, where interactions between surface water and groundwater play a crucial role in the province’s water cycle.
Landon Halloran, a hydrogeologist and hydrogeophysicist, noted the global advancements in groundwater monitoring devices using quantum gravimetry and highlighted NASA’s utilization of this technology through the Grace Follow-On satellites. Halloran emphasized the importance of safeguarding groundwater resources as a fundamental component of the water cycle and stressed the necessity of monitoring these resources diligently.
In conclusion, the partnership between Sio Silica and the University of Manitoba signifies a proactive approach towards environmental stewardship and technological innovation in groundwater monitoring, aiming to ensure sustainable resource management and informed decision-making in the province.