Groundwater is the lifeblood of our planet, yet because it remains hidden beneath our feet, its critical role in ecosystems and human survival is frequently overlooked. In a recent episode of the Groundwater Project (GW-Project) interview series, host Everton de Oliveira sat down with the leadership team of KGS Group, founding partner Bert Smith, Environmental Principal Jason Mann, and Winnipeg’s Environmental Department Head Bonnie Hoffensetz, to discuss their legacy of engineering excellence, their work on Winnipeg’s legendary flood protection system, and why they choose to invest in the global democratization of hydrogeological knowledge.

Winnipeg Floodway Expansion: A Masterclass in Groundwater-Conscious Engineering

One of the highlights of the discussion was KGS Group’s work on the Winnipeg Floodway Expansion Project, a massive, multi-year, $560 million infrastructure initiative designed to protect the city of Winnipeg from catastrophic flooding. Stretching over 50 kilometers, the floodway bypasses Winnipeg to redirect the Red River’s high flows safely around the city.

However, expanding the channel presented severe subsurface challenges. The team had to balance budget efficiency with the protection of a highly sensitive carbonate rock aquifer lying directly beneath the floodway, which is a primary source of water for local domestic and industrial users.

The Decision: Wide over Deep

The most cost-effective engineering approach on paper was to deepen the existing channel. However, KGS Group’s hydrogeological assessment revealed that a deeper channel would breach the protective clay layer and directly impact the underlying confined carbonate aquifer. To protect local water quality and supply, KGS Group advocated for a wider, shallower channel.

Managing Subsurface Construction and Community Trust

To execute this massive project, KGS Group implemented several pioneering strategies:

• 24/7 Emergency Response Line: To address local concerns, KGS Group established a round-the-clock emergency line. If any local resident noticed a drop in well water pressure or quality during dewatering activities, a response team was on-site within an hour to provide backup water and resolve the issue immediately.
• Extensive 2D and 3D Subsurface Modeling: The team modeled 50 kilometers of the carbonaceous aquifer and a separate shallow glacial sand and gravel aquifer to simulate how high-pressure floodwaters could push surface contaminants into the drinking water supply.

Out-of-the-Box Engineering: Two Real-World Case Studies

Everton de Oliveira pointed out that textbook hydrogeology often differs from real-world execution. To bridge this gap, Bert Smith shared two ingenious, field-tested engineering solutions designed during the Winnipeg Floodway project:

1. The Reverse Sand Filter System

During floods, the natural groundwater flow gradient reverses – instead of groundwater discharging into the channel, high-pressure surface floodwaters are forced down into the bedrock aquifer. To prevent mud, silt, and pathogens from contaminating the drinking water, KGS Group designed and installed custom reverse sand filters at critical discharge zones. These systems filtered the incoming floodwater before it entered the aquifer, a success verified by specialized monitoring wells placed directly beneath the filters.

2. The Million-Dollar Cutoff Wall

At the floodway’s outfall, a massive concrete spillway structure required deep dewatering during construction. Pumping the bedrock would have drained local domestic wells and risked long-term contamination from river water.  Bert designed a concrete cutoff wall that extended through the highly fractured upper 3 to 4 meters of limestone (where the highest water flow occurred) and anchored into the competent, lower-permeability limestone. This custom, $1 million solution successfully blocked groundwater inflow to the construction zone and permanently protected the regional aquifer without lowering the local water table.

Why KGS Group Sponsors the Groundwater Project

Sponsoring the Groundwater Project is not about a traditional, corporate return on investment (ROI). For KGS Group, it is a deeply personal and professional commitment.

Mentorship and the John Cherry Legacy

Bert Smith’s hydrogeological career began under the mentorship of Dr. John Cherry (co-author of the seminal textbook Freeze & Cherry and leader of the Groundwater Project) at both the University of Manitoba and the University of Waterloo. For KGS Group, supporting the Groundwater Project is a way to honor that legacy of mentorship and pass it on to the next generation of engineers.

A Duty to Educate the Public

Jason Mann highlighted that as licensed geoscientists and engineers, their primary duty is the protection of the public. With climate change, rapid development, and resource extraction (such as mining for critical minerals) putting unprecedented pressure on water resources, public education is crucial.

“We need to develop resources and build infrastructure, but we must do so without trading one resource for another—without degrading our groundwater to build a project.” — Jason Mann

Giving Back to the Global Community

In addition to the GW-Project, KGS Group actively supports Lifewater Canada, a volunteer organization that drills wells and installs clean water and sanitation systems in developing nations like Haiti and countries across Africa. Sponsoring free translated books for hydrogeologists, students, and regulators worldwide aligns perfectly with this humanitarian mission.

Watch the Full Interview

To hear the full story of Winnipeg’s floodway, KGS Group’s thoughts on the future of the hydrogeology industry, and the lessons learned from decades of field experience, watch the complete interview on our YouTube channel.

👉 Watch the full interview on YouTube
👉 Download free hydrogeology textbooks on the Groundwater Project Platform