Groundwater, Water Contamination & Dewatering
Groundwater testing, contaminated water management and the permits you need to pump water from an excavation.
Groundwater, Water Contamination & Dewatering in Ottawa and across Ontario
Water is often the hidden cost on a development site. If your excavation goes below the water table, you need to know how much water you will pump, whether it is contaminated, and where you are allowed to discharge it. We assess groundwater quality, prepare dewatering plans with our hydrogeology partners, handle provincial registrations and permits, and arrange municipal sewer discharge approvals. We also test private wells and surface water where contamination is a concern.
When you need it
- Deep foundations or underground parking below the water table
- Groundwater contamination found in a Phase II
- Discharging construction water to a municipal sewer or watercourse
- Private well water on rural or village sites
What you receive
- Groundwater quality assessment and monitoring
- Dewatering plan and discharge water treatment recommendations
- EASR registration or Permit to Take Water application, depending on volume
- Municipal sewer-use discharge agreement support
- Well water and surface water sampling reports
Parts of this service that require specialist licences are delivered with our network of licensed partners. InAIR manages the scope, schedule and reporting, so you have one point of contact.
Used at: Approvals & Site Preparation · During Construction
What this covers
- Groundwater monitoring
- Dewatering plans
- EASR water taking registration
- Permit to Take Water (PTTW)
- Sewer discharge approvals
- Hydrogeological assessment
- Private well testing
- Stormwater sampling
Groundwater, Water Contamination & Dewatering questions
When do we need a Permit to Take Water?
Provincial rules depend on how much water you will take per day. Smaller construction dewatering can often be registered on the Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR); larger volumes need a Permit to Take Water, which takes longer. We estimate your volumes early so the right approval is in place before excavation.
Other services
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
- Phase II Environmental Site Assessment
- Phase III Delineation & Remediation
- Record of Site Condition (RSC)
- Excess Soil Management
- Designated Substance & Hazardous Materials Surveys
- Abatement Specifications & Construction Monitoring
- Indoor Air Quality, Mould & Radon
- Drinking Water & Legionella
- Planning & Approval Studies
- Environmental Compliance & Permitting
Have a site or building to assess?
Send us the address and what you are trying to do: buy, finance, rezone, build or renovate. We’ll tell you what you need and send a clear scope and quote.