Kawartha Lakes is a large rural city of lakes and small communities. Lindsay drinks river water, but many smaller communities rely on municipal wells, and most rural homes have their own. A hydrogeological study in Kawartha Lakes is most often a well and septic question for a rural or waterfront lot.
What this means for your project in Kawartha Lakes
- Most studies support severances and new homes on private wells and septic systems, and larger septic systems or water supplies for commercial uses.
- The City reviews planning applications; Kawartha Conservation covers about half the city, but much of the north has no conservation authority.
- Several of the City's small water systems draw from wells, some closely connected to surface water, so activities nearby can fall under source protection policies.
- The local factor most likely to affect scope and cost: shallow water in rock. Wells mostly reach bedrock with water a few metres down, so septic isolation and well testing drive the work.
Kawartha Lakes groundwater data
Calculated from public provincial datasets for City of Kawartha Lakes. Each value names its source; links are under Sources at the end of the page.
| Median depth of wells with a water level | 15.2 m (18,689 records reporting depth and water level) |
|---|---|
| Median static water level | 3.7 m below ground (18,689 records reporting depth and water level) |
| Records reaching bedrock | 66% of all records with a depth |
| Well records | 23,310 records (all types) |
| Active Permits to Take Water | 57 permits; largest purpose categories: Water Supply 25, Industrial 9, Dewatering 8 |
| Active construction and dewatering permits | 2 of 57 active Permits to Take Water |
| Conservation authority | Kawartha Conservation (53.4% of area); Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (3.5% of area); Otonabee Conservation (3.2% of area) |
| Provincial plan areas | Oak Ridges Moraine 3.8%; Greenbelt 3.9% of area |
Source: Well Records (Water Well Information System), MECP (WWIS_2026a), retrieved 2026-10-14.
Source: Permit to Take Water, MECP (PermitsToTakeWater_26-01), retrieved 2026-10-14.
Source: Conservation Authority Administrative Area, Ontario GeoHub, retrieved 2026-10-14.
Source: Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) Planning Area, Ontario GeoHub; Greenbelt Outer Boundary, Ontario GeoHub; Niagara Escarpment Plan Boundary, Ontario GeoHub; retrieved 2026-10-14.
Figures count records inside the municipal boundary that report a value; well locations and values are as submitted by well contractors, and MECP notes inaccuracies exist. How these figures are calculated.
Kawartha Lakes has 23,310 well records, more than any other place we cover except Hamilton, Ottawa and Toronto. 66% of those with a depth reach bedrock, and wells that report a water level have a median depth of 15.2 m and a median water level of 3.7 m below ground. Water supply permits, 25 of 57, are the largest group of active Permits to Take Water.
What the City's Official Plan requires
The City of Kawartha Lakes Official Plan (2012, March 2025 office consolidation) sets several local triggers for hydrogeological work:
| Situation | What the plan says |
|---|---|
| Multiple residential development or significant water users on private services (s. 3.3.4) | A hydrogeological study showing enough potable water of adequate quality, and land suitable for sewage disposal without contaminating the groundwater supply |
| Hamlets on individual services (s. 19.3.13) | Minimum lot size should be 4,000 m²; a hydrogeological study acceptable to the City, prepared to the provincial D-5-5 guideline, is the basis for development density |
| Additional residential units outside settlement areas (s. 5.7.2) | Lots should be at least 0.4 ha; a smaller lot can qualify where a hydrogeological and site servicing study shows it can be serviced |
| Taking water beyond personal use (s. 3.3.2) | Treated as a commercial operation needing commercial or industrial zoning; a Permit to Take Water application comes with a water budget, and where no permit is needed Council may require a monitoring and financial agreement to protect neighbouring wells |
| Highway commercial without communal services (s. 21.2.3) | A hydrogeological report identifying the method of servicing |
| Pits with a wash plant or extraction below the water table (s. 23.3.7) | A hydrogeological study showing no negative impact, with monitoring before and during the water taking |
Two of these are distinctive. The 4,000 m² hamlet lot is a starting point, not a guarantee: the City uses the D-5-5 study to decide how many lots a hamlet property can support. And the water-taking policy means any commercial taking needs both the right zoning and a water budget before the City considers the rezoning, on top of the provincial permit.
Six or more lots, communal wells and dry industry
Part D of the same plan draws a line at six. New development with six or more dwellings or lots must be on full municipal services (s. 28.4.1), except within existing Hamlet and Waterfront designations, where it follows the level of service already provided. A private communal well serving six or more residences needs a Responsibility Agreement with the City, financial assurances and a detailed hydrogeological study peer reviewed by the City, covering water quantity and quality, soils for sewage disposal and cross contamination (s. 28.3.2). For a dry industrial or commercial use, a consent, subdivision or condominium is not approved until a hydrogeological report shows the site can support private well and septic systems, and the land may be zoned with a holding symbol until the City approves it (s. 28.4.2). To the northwest, the District of Muskoka deals with the same private well and septic questions on waterfront lots, with lake setbacks and phosphorus rules on top; its private servicing rules in Muskoka are set out separately.
River water and small well systems
The City publishes an annual drinking water report for each municipal system. Its 2025 reports for Lindsay, King's Bay, Western Trent and Canadiana Shores show how varied the sources are:
| System | Source (2025 reports) |
|---|---|
| Lindsay | Scugog River, a surface water source; serves more than 10,000 residences |
| King's Bay | Three groundwater wells, not under the direct influence of surface water |
| Western Trent | Two wells (Palmina and Western Trent), groundwater under the direct influence of surface water |
| Canadiana Shores | Three wells, groundwater under the direct influence of surface water |
Other systems with 2025 reports include Woods of Manilla, Victoria Place, Southview Estates, Pleasant Point, Birch Point and Pinewood. Not every City system sits in the city: the Trent source protection King's Bay summary places that system, serving about 300 people, in the Township of Scugog. Under Ontario's source protection program, municipal wells and intakes have protection zones, and where a well is GUDI, surface drainage near it matters as much as the aquifer.
Source protection notices and new pathways
Inside a wellhead protection area or intake protection zone, Kawartha Conservation's Risk Management Official issues the source protection notice needed before the City accepts a zoning or official plan amendment, site plan, minor variance, consent or building permit. There is no fee, Kawartha Conservation says it will give a status update within three business days, and an activity that is a significant threat needs a negotiated risk management plan. Policy OT-2 of the Trent Source Protection Plan adds a test that matters for hydrogeological work: wells, boreholes, deep excavations and buried services are transport pathways, and in WHPA-A the City should not approve a new one without a qualified person's statement that it will not significantly increase the well's vulnerability. The plan also strongly encourages municipalities to prohibit earth energy systems in WHPA-A and, in WHPA-B, to have a qualified hydrogeologist oversee most new ones.
Where there is no conservation authority
About 39.9% of the city falls outside every conservation authority area in the provincial boundary data. In those areas no conservation authority reviews the hydrogeology or issues permits for work near wetlands and watercourses, so the City and the provincial ministries are the reviewers. Kawartha Conservation covers about 53.4% of the city, with small areas in the Lake Simcoe and Otonabee watersheds.
Where Kawartha Conservation does review, its plan review fee schedule charges $500 per lot created on a severance and includes three resubmissions of a technical report. It recovers peer review costs from the applicant when a report goes beyond its in-house expertise, and names hydrogeological analysis as the example, so budget for a possible third-party review of the study as well as the study itself.
Rural and waterfront lots
For severances and new homes, the provincial D-5-5 guideline sets the well test and D-5-4 the septic assessment. With water a few metres below ground in rock in much of the city, the D-5-4 question of whether septic effluent is isolated from the aquifer is often decisive, and on waterfront lots the distance to the lake and the soil available for a septic bed add constraints.
Hydrogeological study cost in Kawartha Lakes
| Study | Starting point | Full span |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrogeological study for a severance | $5,500 – $8,500 | $2,500 – $17,500 |
| Water supply well study | $7,000 – $11,000 | $7,000 – $86,500 |
| Large septic system assessment | $7,000 – $11,000 | $7,000 – $37,000 |
| Source protection risk assessment | $4,500 – $7,000 | $4,500 – $15,500 |
These are indicative ranges based on typical scopes, the same province-wide ranges the estimator uses, not prices specific to Kawartha Lakes. Locally, the work is reviewed by the City of Kawartha Lakes, with Kawartha Conservation where its area applies and, for water takings, the ministry, and the scope they ask for is what moves a quote. Where Kawartha Conservation reviews the report, a peer review at the applicant's cost can be added. Excludes well drilling, government application fees and HST. For quote comparisons, read the guide to hydrogeological study costs.
Projects that need a hydrogeological study in Kawartha Lakes
- Rural and waterfront severances. D-5-5 well testing and D-5-4 septic assessment on bedrock.
- Hamlet lots on private services. A D-5-5 study that sets how many 4,000 m² or larger lots the land can support.
- Commercial and institutional uses. Larger septic systems and private water supplies.
- Development near small municipal well systems. A source protection notice, screening near GUDI wells, and a qualified person's statement for new wells or deep excavations in WHPA-A.
- Communal wells for six or more homes. A detailed hydrogeological study, peer reviewed by the City, under a Responsibility Agreement.
Working with a hydrogeologist in Kawartha Lakes
Inside a wellhead protection area or intake protection zone in Kawartha Lakes, Kawartha Conservation's Risk Management Official issues the source protection notice the City needs; there is no fee, and Kawartha Conservation says it gives a status update within three business days. Where it reviews a hydrogeological assessment in Kawartha Lakes, it can recover peer review costs from the applicant when the report goes beyond its in-house expertise, so allow for that in the budget. In the north of the city, outside any conservation authority, the City and the provincial ministries review the work. You can confirm a P.Geo. named on a Kawartha Lakes proposal in the public register of geoscientists.
Rural landowners splitting a lot in Kawartha Lakes can start with when a severance needs a hydrogeological study.
Kawartha Lakes questions
Where does Lindsay's water come from?
Lindsay's water comes from the Scugog River. The City's 2025 Lindsay report describes the river as a surface water source, and the Lindsay system is the only one of the City's systems serving more than 10,000 residences.
Are the smaller communities on wells?
Many are: the City's 2025 reports describe King's Bay with three wells classed as not under the direct influence of surface water, and Western Trent (two wells) and Canadiana Shores (three wells) with wells classed as groundwater under the direct influence of surface water (GUDI), which need treatment like a surface supply.
What does GUDI mean for a property near one of these wells?
A GUDI well draws groundwater that is closely connected to nearby surface water, so contamination at the surface can reach it quickly. For a property close to such a well, activities near ditches, shorelines and drainage paths deserve as much attention as those over the aquifer itself.
Who reviews my application if there is no conservation authority?
About 39.9% of Kawartha Lakes lies outside every conservation authority area in the provincial boundary data. There, the City and the provincial ministries handle the review without conservation authority comments. Kawartha Conservation covers about 53.4% of the city, with small areas under Lake Simcoe Region and Otonabee.
Do rural wells here usually reach bedrock?
Yes, most do: in Kawartha Lakes, 66% of well records with a depth reach bedrock, and wells that report a water level have a median water level of 3.7 m below ground. That combination puts the weight of a severance study on two tests: whether the new well yields enough over the D-5-5 pumping test, and whether the soil over the rock keeps septic effluent out of it.
Studies for Kawartha Lakes properties
- Severance Hydrogeological Study (D-5-4 / D-5-5)
Groundwater quality and well supply assessments for rural lot creation under MECP guidelines D-5-4 and D-5-5.
- Water Supply Well Assessment & Pumping Tests
Pumping tests, well yield and interference assessments for commercial, agricultural and communal supplies.
- Hydrogeological Assessment for Large Septic Systems
Groundwater impact assessments for larger on-site sewage systems.
- Source Water Protection Risk Assessment
Assessments for activities proposed inside wellhead protection areas and other vulnerable areas.
- Hydrogeological study cost guide
Ranges for every study type, side by side.
Near Kawartha Lakes
Sources
- Well Records: Water Well Information System (WWIS_2026a) and county Well Record Data Reports (WW_Reports_2026a) (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP), Ontario Data Catalogue.
- Permit to Take Water dataset (PermitsToTakeWater_26-01) (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP), Ontario Data Catalogue.
- Conservation Authority Administrative Area (opens in a new tab), Ontario GeoHub.
- Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) Planning Area (opens in a new tab), Ontario GeoHub.
- Greenbelt Outer Boundary (opens in a new tab), Ontario GeoHub.
- Niagara Escarpment Plan Boundary (opens in a new tab), Ontario GeoHub.
- Official Plan, 2012 (March 2025 office consolidation) (opens in a new tab), City of Kawartha Lakes.
- 2025 Annual Drinking Water Report: Lindsay Drinking Water System (opens in a new tab), City of Kawartha Lakes.
- 2025 Annual Drinking Water Report: King’s Bay Drinking Water System (opens in a new tab), City of Kawartha Lakes.
- 2025 Annual Drinking Water Report: Western Trent Drinking Water System (opens in a new tab), City of Kawartha Lakes.
- 2025 Annual Drinking Water Report: Canadiana Shores Drinking Water System (opens in a new tab), City of Kawartha Lakes.
- King's Bay municipal drinking water system summary (2025) (opens in a new tab), Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region.
- Source protection (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP).
- Source protection notice (section 59) (opens in a new tab), Kawartha Conservation.
- Trent Source Protection Plan (updated October 8, 2026), policies G-9 and OT-2 (opens in a new tab), Trent Conservation Coalition Source Protection Region.
- Schedule 1: plan review fee schedule (effective December 1, 2022) (opens in a new tab), Kawartha Conservation.
- Public Register (registered members) (opens in a new tab), Professional Geoscientists Ontario.
- Municipal Boundary - Lower and Single Tier (opens in a new tab), Ontario GeoHub.
- OHN Waterbody, 2M generalized layer (provincial hydrography dataset) (opens in a new tab), Ontario GeoHub.
- D-5-4 Individual on-site sewage systems: water quality impact risk assessment (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP).
- D-5-5 Private wells: water supply assessment (opens in a new tab), Government of Ontario (MECP).