Regional groundwater summary • Ontario Historical Log Extraction
Bottom Line Up Front
In Niagara, the median completed well is 57 ft deep.
A published hardness range for this place and aquifer is under 60 to above 180 mg/L as CaCO₃. That is a regional estimate, not a test of your well. Source: Estimate based on Health Canada hardness bands.
Most production draws from Limestone (about 64% of local wells).
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
57 FT
Area median
Drilling cost
$3,990–$8,550
Estimate
Published hardness
under 60 to above 180 mg/L as CaCO₃
Modeled typical strata — placeholder from median depth + aquifer type; not local driller logs.
Local measurements compared against Ontario provincial benchmarks.
| Hydrogeological Metric | From the registry or a cited study | ON Provincial Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Total Registered Wells | 8,569 | — |
| Median Well Depth | 57 ft | 103 ft provincial median |
| Average Well Depth | 69.1 ft | — |
| Dominant Aquifer | Limestone | — |
| Hardness | under 60 to above 180 mg/L as CaCO₃ — Estimate. Estimate based on Health Canada hardness bands | — |
| Drilling cost | $3,990–$8,550 — Estimate. Typical drilling prices in Canada, about $70–$150 per foot | — |
| Domestic Household Use | 75% of wells | — |
Approximate boundary of Niagara
Shaded area is an approximate municipal outline for orientation only. Well records are aggregated across the entire Niagara.
Most completed wells fall near the median depth of 57 ft. Recorded depths cover 8,558 wells.
Median depth of 57 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. Recorded for 8,534 of these 8,569 wells.
5,485 of 8,569 Major regional bedrock aquifer formed by Ordovician/Silurian dolomite. Known for reliable, high-volume yields with elevated mineral hardness and dissolved calcium/magnesium carbonates.
1,662 of 8,569 Fractured sedimentary shale formation (including Odanah / Pierre members). Characterized by high total dissolved solids (TDS) and potential sulfur/iron compounds.
1,051 of 8,569 Shallow to intermediate glacial drift aquifer deposited in alluvial channels or outwash plains. Yields softer water but requires continuous sediment filtration and shallow bacterial monitoring.
291 of 8,569 Impermeable glaciolacustrine clay and silt deposits formed in ancient glacial lakes. Acts as an effective regional aquitard confining underlying aquifers.
34 of 8,569 Crystalline Canadian Shield rock. Yields soft, slightly acidic water with minimal dissolved solids, relying on secondary fracture networks for groundwater storage.
11 of 8,569 Deep basal sandstone bedrock unit (including Winnipeg Formation). Supplies exceptionally stable yields; often exhibits moderate mineral hardness with silica-rich water.
8,357 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 Niagara.
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.
PELHAM, NIAGARA REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY, 1.65 km away, nearby.
28 government lab tests, dated 2004–2025.
Hardness 247–360 mg/L as CaCO₃, median 322.
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 28 government lab tests.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN): water chemistry and well locations Open Government Licence - Ontario
PELHAM, NIAGARA REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY, 1.65 km away, nearby.
28 government lab tests, dated 2004–2025.
Hardness 250–570 mg/L as CaCO₃, median 398.
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 28 government lab tests.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN): water chemistry and well locations Open Government Licence - Ontario
PELHAM, NIAGARA REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY, 3.6 km away, nearby.
17 government lab tests, dated 2003–2022.
Hardness 257–413 mg/L as CaCO₃, median 306.
Worked out by wellwaterguide.ca from 17 government lab tests.
reported hardness, or calculated from measured calcium and magnesium when hardness was not reported
Provincial Groundwater Monitoring Network (PGMN): water chemistry and well locations Open Government Licence - Ontario
Historical permit and construction activity by decade.
82% 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 testA softener is likely needed. The nearest monitoring well has a median hardness of 322 mg/L as CaCO₃.
Hard-water guideBecause water wells in Niagara average 57 ft into limestone, contractors equipped with heavy rotary rigs and proper casing seals are recommended. Contact local drillers directly or request competitive bids.
Yard: Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (22.9 km away)
Yard: Waterloo, ON (104.8 km away)
Yard: Stratford, ON (139.4 km away)
Yard: Barrie, ON (155.5 km away)
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Quick answers about water wells in Niagara.
Among 8558 producing water wells with a recorded depth, the median is 57.0 ft (17.37 m).
Explore neighbouring hydrogeological formations and compare drilling depths