What’s Happening Beneath Our Feet: 2026 Groundwater Levels

As we head into summer, a new regional groundwater report offers an important snapshot of the water below our feet, and what it means for our communities.

Groundwater is a vital resource across the Regional District of Nanaimo. More than 40% of residents rely on it for drinking water, whether through municipal systems, improvement districts, First Nations systems, private utilities, or individual wells. It quietly supports homes, ecosystems, agriculture, and local economies, making its health essential to all of us.

How groundwater is monitored

Understanding groundwater isn’t simple. It’s hidden underground and varies from place to place. To track it, the RDN’s Drinking Water and Watershed Protection program works with both provincial partners and local volunteers.

A network of monitoring wells across the region collects data on water levels in aquifers (the underground layers that store and move groundwater). This includes a Volunteer Observation Well Network, which expands coverage of the Provincial Observation Well Network, helping fill important data gaps and improve our understanding of long-term groundwater trends.

Since 2020, the RDN has produced annual pre‑summer groundwater analyses to support water planning and decision-making heading into the dry season. These reports look at both current conditions and trends over time.

What the 2026 report shows

This year’s analysis is the most comprehensive we’ve released yet. It includes data from 62 monitoring wells (30 RDN Volunteer Observation Wells and 32 Provincial Groundwater Observation Wells), and reporting from all 22 mapped aquifers in the region that currently have monitoring equipment installed to track groundwater levels.

The overall picture is mixed. Across the region:

In other words, most aquifers are starting the summer at lower-than-normal levels. While a few areas, such as parts of Oceanside, Parksville, and the Millstone Valley, are holding steady or even showing improvement, many others are under pressure. Aquifers underlying Nanoose, Qualicum, Cedar, French Creek, and Deep Bay are among those experiencing notably lower water levels than expected for this time of year.

Recent weather patterns can be attributed to some of these lower levels, as the region has seen a drier-than-average winter, low snowpack (meaning less spring recharge), and a hotter-than-average spring. These conditions continue a broader pattern of drier trends observed over the past several years.

Because groundwater is replenished slowly, through rainfall and snowmelt, these seasonal patterns can have lasting impacts.

Why spring levels matter

Groundwater levels in spring are an early warning sign for summer. If levels are already low heading into warmer months, and hot, dry weather continues, we can expect an increased demand for water (especially outdoors), greater stress on aquifers, and a higher risk of water shortages in some areas.

Groundwater conditions vary widely across the region and aquifers differ depending on their geology (bedrock vs. sand and gravel, confined vs. unconfined), local rainfall patterns, and how much water is being used. Even within the same aquifer, conditions can vary significantly. This variability highlights the need for localized understanding and management, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

What can we do?

The most immediate and effective response is water conservation. Residents and businesses can help by:

These small actions add up, especially during peak summer demand.

Looking ahead and over the longer term, the report points to the need for broader strategies, including supporting groundwater recharge, expanding water storage, and improving water efficiency year-round. These efforts will help build resilience as climate patterns evolve.

Groundwater may be out of sight, but it is central to daily life in the RDN. It connects our communities, supports our environment, and sustains our water supply.

This year’s report is both a snapshot of current conditions and a call to action. By understanding what’s happening now, and taking steps to conserve and protect water, we can help ensure this critical resource remains healthy for years to come.

Read the report: Regional Groundwater Level Analysis Pre-Summer 2026 (MEMO) + Tables & Graphs (APPENDICES)