Staff Research Highlight - Understanding topography-driven groundwater flow using fully-coupled surface-water and groundwater modeling
This research focuses on understanding the dynamics of topography-driven groundwater flow systems using fully-coupled surface–subsurface hydrologic modelling. This study addresses long-standing challenges in representing nested flow systems by simulating interactions between climate, topography, and groundwater without relying on potentially unrealistic, static boundary conditions.
Assessing the Sensitivity of Subsurface Mine-Dewatering Simulations to Surface Water Representation - Aquanty Webinar
Explore how surface water representation shapes subsurface mine-dewatering simulations in our latest webinar with Dr. Andrea Brookfield (University of Waterloo). This session highlights how climate change and surface water interactions can significantly influence dewatering strategies across mining operations.
Using HydroGeoSphere, the webinar compares conventional groundwater-only models with fully integrated surface–subsurface simulations under future climate scenarios. The results reveal important limitations of traditional approaches and show how integrated models provide more accurate insights for long-term mine water management.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Vulnerability of the Saint-Charles drinking water source: portrait of the groundwater resources of the St-Charles River watershed and their links with surface water
We’re pleased to highlight this research effort, which focuses on understanding the vulnerability of the Saint-Charles River drinking water source and characterizing the groundwater resources that support it. Presented through a public-facing ArcGIS Story Map, this project delivers an accessible summary of a detailed hydrogeological study that integrates field measurements, geochemical analyses, and numerical modelling to evaluate the watershed’s current and future ability to provide safe, reliable drinking water for the City of Quebec and its surrounding municipalities.
NEW version of HGS PREMIUM August 2025 (REVISION 2861)
The HydroGeoSphere Revision 2861 (August 2025) is now available for download.
Staff Research Highlight - Steady-state density-driven flow and transport: Pseudo-transient parameter continuation
Co-authored by Aquanty’s senior scientist, Hyoun-Tae Hwang, this research presents a new numerical approach for efficiently solving steady-state density-driven flow and transport equations— an important challenge in groundwater modelling, particularly for coastal aquifers affected by seawater intrusion. The research introduces a hybrid technique called pseudo-transient parameter continuation (PTPC), which combines the robustness of pseudo-transient continuation (PTC) methods with the computational efficiency of parameter continuation (PC) strategies.
HydroClimateSight Feature Highlight: Understanding Ensemble vs Deterministic Forecasting in HydroSphereAI
We’re excited to announce that short-range streamflow forecasting is now available in HydroSphereAI! Our new short-range forecasts offer detailed predictions for the day ahead with hourly output intervals. To address the lack of uncertainty information typical of deterministic systems, we’ve introduced a lagged ensemble approach, giving you a clearer picture of forecast confidence in the near term.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Source Water Protection in Quebec City: Using an integrated 3D hydrological model to investigate surface water-groundwater interactions
The research, presented as a poster by Benjamin Frot at EGU 2025, explores the use of HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to investigate surface water–groundwater interactions in the Saint-Charles River watershed, which supplies drinking water to Quebec City. With a focus on source water protection, the study addresses the challenges posed by increasing urbanization, contamination from septic systems and road salts, and reduced water availability during low-flow periods. The work is part of a larger project aimed at evaluating the vulnerability of Quebec City's main surface water intake.
HydroSphereAI Case Study: Crowe River Near Glen Alda
In late March 2025, the Crowe Valley Conservation Authority issued a Flood Watch across the watershed in response to a forecasted storm system and ongoing spring runoff. Forecasted rainfall, saturated soils, and an above-average snowpack created the right conditions for elevated streamflows, particularly in the Crowe River watershed. With a peak spring snow water equivalent (SWE) of 149.2 mm, the basin was primed for rapid hydrologic response—culminating in a strong single peak on April 6, when flows at Water Survey of Canada hydrometric Station 02HK005 reached 45.2 m³/s.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Exploring the reliability of ²²²Rn as a tracer of groundwater age in alluvial aquifers: Insights from the explicit simulation of variable ²²²Rn production
We’re pleased to highlight this publication which investigates the reliability of using radon-222 (²²²Rn) as a tracer for groundwater age in alluvial aquifers. Accurate estimations of groundwater residence time (GRT)—the time since water infiltrated from the surface—are critical for effective water resource management, especially in systems that rely on bank filtration near rivers for drinking water supply. While ²²²Rn has long been employed as a natural tracer due to its radioactive decay properties and elevated concentrations in groundwater, most traditional models assume spatially uniform ²²²Rn production and purely advective flow— assumptions that rarely hold in real-world aquifers.
Staff Research Highlight - Application of Different Weighting Schemes and Stochastic Simulations to Parameterization Processes Considering Observation Error
In this paper co-authored by Aquanty personnel, researchers explore how different weighting schemes and stochastic simulations can enhance the accuracy of parameter estimation processes, ultimately reducing uncertainty in climate change impact assessments.