Regional groundwater summary • Alberta Historical Log Extraction
Bottom Line Up Front
In Olds, the median completed well is 103 ft deep.
A published hardness range for this place and aquifer is 12–288 mg/L as CaCO₃. That is a regional estimate, not a test of your well. Source: Estimate based on Alberta Health private well data.
These municipal aggregates support planning only — they do not replace an accredited laboratory potability test for your own well.
Interactive Well Depth & Modeled Typical Strata
Drag the indicator line or tap a stratum below to read the recorded depth range
Modelled Depth
103 FT
Area median
Drilling cost
$7,210–$15,450
Estimate
Published hardness
12–288 mg/L as CaCO₃
Modeled typical strata — placeholder from median depth + aquifer type; not local driller logs.
Local measurements compared against Alberta provincial benchmarks.
| Hydrogeological Metric | From the registry or a cited study | AB Provincial Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Total Registered Wells | 84 | — |
| Median Well Depth | 103 ft | 121 ft provincial median |
| Average Well Depth | 130.5 ft | — |
| Recorded Depth Range | 14 – 350 ft | — |
| Hardness | 12–288 mg/L as CaCO₃ — Estimate. Estimate based on Alberta Health private well data | — |
| Drilling cost | $7,210–$15,450 — Estimate. Typical drilling prices in Canada, about $70–$150 per foot | — |
| Domestic Household Use | 85% of wells | — |
Approximate boundary of Olds
Shaded area is an approximate municipal outline for orientation only. Well records are aggregated across the entire Olds.
Most completed wells fall near the median depth of 103 ft. Recorded depths cover 76 wells.
Median depth of 103 ft falls inside the reported range. Deeper completions here usually mean higher mineral content but steadier year-round pressure.
Bedrock and drift aquifers recorded by drillers in this area.
11 holes found no usable water. test holes, observation or monitoring wells, dewatering wells, decommissioned wells, dry holes, no-aquifer holes, and other non-supply wells filtered out of the headline
A published hardness range, when one exists for this place and aquifer. Not a test of your well.
Measured nearby
Measured government tests within 25 km of Olds.
USGS (2018) bands reprinted by Health Canada. A range can cross more than one band. This is not a sample.
What this is not
Health Canada has not set a maximum acceptable concentration for hardness. A wide published range can sit in more than one USGS band.
Survey section: Section 32, Township 32, Range 1, West of the 5th Meridian, 0.52 km away, nearby.
5 government lab tests, dated 2003–2015.
Hardness 5–381 mg/L as CaCO₃.
1 test is above 180 mg/L.
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 5 government lab tests.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Domestic Well Water Quality in Alberta: Routine Chemistry, 2001 to 2021 Open Government Licence - Alberta
Survey section: Section 5, Township 33, Range 1, West of the 5th Meridian, 1.1 km away, nearby.
6 government lab tests, dated 2010–2020.
Hardness 1–446 mg/L as CaCO₃.
3 tests are above 180 mg/L.
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 6 government lab tests.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Domestic Well Water Quality in Alberta: Routine Chemistry, 2001 to 2021 Open Government Licence - Alberta
Survey section: Section 31, Township 32, Range 1, West of the 5th Meridian, 1.75 km away, nearby.
1 government lab test, dated 2016.
Hardness 9 mg/L as CaCO₃ (1 test).
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 1 government lab test.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Domestic Well Water Quality in Alberta: Routine Chemistry, 2001 to 2021 Open Government Licence - Alberta
Historical permit and construction activity by decade.
85% of dated wells are over 30 years old (pre-1995). Steel casing installed before 1995 can lose integrity over time. Any older well should get a casing inspection and a certified bacterial test before reliance.
Treatment
This page does not turn a hardness range or a well depth into an equipment total, a grain capacity, or a drilling price. Read the methodology, the filtration guide, and the products catalog.
Suggested system
Test kit
estimate, confirm with a lab testA test of your own well comes before any equipment. Test for coliform bacteria.
Water testingWater softener
estimate, confirm with a lab testSome wells nearby test above 120 mg/L, a softener may help, confirm with a lab test. 1 test is above 180 mg/L.
Hard-water guideBecause water wells in Olds average 103 ft, contractors equipped with heavy rotary rigs and proper casing seals are recommended. Contact local drillers directly or request competitive bids.
Yard: Red Deer County, AB (62.7 km away)
Yard: Rocky View County, AB (85.9 km away)
Yard: Strathmore, AB (97.1 km away)
Yard: Black Diamond, AB (123 km away)
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Quick answers about water wells in Olds.
Among 76 producing water wells with a recorded depth, the median is 103.0 ft (31.3944 m).
Explore neighbouring hydrogeological formations and compare drilling depths