Groundwater vulnerability in the Yukon and Northwest Territories, Canada

Abstract

Groundwater is a valuable resource in northern Canada, which is used as a primary drinking water source for many residents and ensures the health of ecosystems. However, no groundwater vulnerability assessment methods have been specifically developed for these cold regions. The extreme seasonal climate and frozen ground conditions present unique challenges in assessing groundwater and well vulnerability. Climate warming and permafrost thaw, population density, contaminant threats, and Indigenous knowledge are key features to integrate within adapted assessment approaches.