The Base of Groundwater Protection (BGWP) file provides the best estimated elevation (in metres above sea level) for the base of the deepest formation that is likely to contain nonsaline groundwater. Nonsaline groundwater, at and above the BGWP elevation, requires protection from oil and gas activity regulated by the Alberta Energy Regulator.
We publish BGWP elevation data for every legal subdivision in Alberta, except in the mountainous region, where the BGWP is set to 600 m below ground level, and the northeast corner of the province.
For more information on the BGWP, see our Frequently Asked Questions document.
Access the Data File
For help reading the shapefile, see our Reference Layout Document for detailed descriptions of the BGWP layout and data.
Query Tool
Use the BGWP query tool to find BGWP elevations for legal subdivisions in Alberta. For help using the tool, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions document.
Legal subdivisions for mountainous region and the northeastern quarter of Alberta are not available for query.
