3.3 Ground Water 



3.3.1 Operations 



SaskPower's supplementary water supply project continued to operate during 2003. The supplementary 

 water supply project currently consists of 21 wells with a total of 10 discharge points. No wells were 

 added or deleted from the well field during the year. The majority of ground-water production in 2003 

 occurred during the fall to spring period. This is a typical operational pattern for the project and is done 

 to minimize water losses. However, pumping was maintained through the 2003 summer period due to 

 low spring runoff. In 2003, ground-water production decreased to 4,489 dam^ from the 2002 total of 

 4,927 dam^ total. Production from 1991 to 2003 has now averaged 4,998 dam^ per year. Prior to 1991, 

 the wells used for supplementary supply were part of a dewatering network for coal-mining operations. 

 This resulted in the high production levels experienced in the early to mid 1980's. With the drought of 

 the late 1980's and early 1990's, it was evident that there was a continued need for ground water to 

 supplement water levels in Cookson Reservoir. Consequently, the wells were taken over by SaskPower 

 for use as a supplementary supply. 



Poplar River Power Station - Supplementary Supply 



1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 



Year 



Figure 3.9 Supplementary Water Supply 



18 



