Hydrogeology is the branch of GeoScience that specializes in studying of the occurrence, quality, quantity and movement of water in soils and rock (groundwater). Canada is blessed with a significant amount of the world's fresh water resources, a large portion being groundwater. While generally renewable, these resources are not infinite and must be shared and protected. Population growth and our improved living standards drive ever-increasing demands on groundwater, despite the total volume available staying roughly the same. The distribution and quality of groundwater is not uniform. Some areas have an abundance of good quality groundwater while other areas have barely enough. In some areas, historical land uses have resulted in contamination of the soil and groundwater. The hydrogeologist's task is to explore and quantify groundwater resources, assess quality and provide recommendations to policy makers for the management, protection and improvement of these resources. Ultimately, management requires balancing the needs of our population and economy with the needs of ecosystems that depend on groundwater. As surface water sources are not independent of groundwater, applying hydrogeology is also important for the management of wetlands, lakes and rivers. Hydrogeological studies can encompass a wide variety of project types. To see what project types ORE can help you with, please click on one of the links below or contact us for more information: