In 2009, the Beaver River Watershed Alliance and Alberta Environment assisted Alberta Health and Wellness in their efforts to update an original groundwater quality study completed in 1999 – 2000. At that time, the study was conducted to address community groundwater concerns related to arsenic concentrations in groundwater.  The study concluded that the area has naturally occurring arsenic in the groundwater and recommended that well owners test their water quality (and treat as required if they planned on using this source for domestic purposes).

For this updated study, the Ministry of Alberta Health and Wellness sampled 200 domestic wells. Water samples were tested for arsenic, uranium and 21 other trace metals. The study found inorganic arsenic levels in the Beaver River watershed were higher than the average in Alberta. The complete results of which are available here.