Planning for groundwater source heat pumps

Abstract

Development of groundwater as a resource lies in its wise use and reuse. The challenge facing water managers is the role groundwater will play in balancing demands for water use in industrial, agricultural, domestic and energy applications. Shallow near-surface groundwater (less than 80m) provides heating and cooling in more than 6 000 locations in Canada. Regional scale groundwater planning for heat pumps can identify suitable (and unsuitable) sites for sustainable groundwater use. A classification system was developed and tested in the 1 400 km2 Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Seven parameters in the groundwater heat pump system: topography, bedrock geology, soils, groundwater availably, water table and percolation rate, were entered into a matrix of ground water heat pump evaluation. Groundwater heat pump suitability is determined by quantification of physical variables, which are ranked, aggregated, and presented in map form. The procedure is responsive to local physical conditions and concerns. The results of the Region of Waterloo study show 19 percent of the Region is High, 41 percent is Moderate and 40 percent is Low suitability for groundwater heat pump use. © 1990 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.