Less than 1% of the earth's water supply is in freshwater lakes, streams and groundwater, and approximately 2/3 of this are in the form of groundwater. In many places in the world fresh water supplies are running out. Water may well become the "oil" of the future.

"Seventy percent of the world use, including all water diverted from rivers and pumped from underground, is used for irrigation, 20 percent is used by industry, and 10 percent goes to residences. Thus if the world is facing a water shortage, it is also facing a food shortage."
Lester R. Brown, August 2002

In Canada, groundwater supplies approximately 26% of the population for domestic uses. Groundwater also maintains lakes and stream ecosystems as it discharges into surface water.

In the Comox Valley groundwater recharge is from annual rainfall, which is approximately 1.2 metres (48 inches) per year. Because this is a Mediterranean climate, with most precipitation falling in the winter and very little in the summer, recharge takes place in the winter. The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection has operated Observation Well 280 in the Comox Valley since 1982.

In general the hydrograph from Well 280 shows that groundwater levels follow a regular seasonal pattern, with maximum groundwater levels occurring during April and May and minimum groundwater levels occurring during September and October. There is also strong year-to-year cycles with lower well levels during years of below average precipitation and higher well levels during years of above average precipitation. Peak groundwater levels show a time lag of between one and three months behind the major precipitation periods.

There are 15 known aquifers in the Comox Valley. Visit the Regional District Environmental Planning website www.rdcs.bc.ca to view the location of, and to obtain details about, each aquifer.