Each neighbourhood receives a 0–100 groundwater risk index built from City of Saskatoon Neighbourhood Profiles plus provincial groundwater and soil datasets. Five components are combined as a weighted average, then rounded to a whole number.
If a component has no data, it is skipped and the remaining weights are renormalized so every score stays explainable.
Estimate, not a measured value. Risk index scores are estimates, not true measured values for any specific property. They combine the best available public data (water-well records, regional soil maps, City planning figures) into a weighted index near each neighbourhood centroid. Groundwater and soil conditions vary lot by lot. This tool is not a substitute for a professional home or geotechnical inspection.
Independent site. This site is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or operated by the City of Saskatoon, the Water Security Agency, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, or any other government agency. Public data are cited as sources only.
Score components
- 30%Shallow water table — Depth to groundwater from nearby WSA water-well driller reports (shallower = higher risk).
- 20%Clay-dominated soil — Average clay-textured share among mapped soil units near the neighbourhood (AAFC regional survey — not a site-specific soil test).
- 20%Recency of build — Share of homes built 2011–2021 (from City age-bucket data).
- 10%Owner exposure — Owner-occupancy rate for the neighbourhood.
- 20%City naming — Applied only when the neighbourhood is City-flagged (see below).
City-flagged neighbourhoods: Brighton, Rosewood, Evergreen, Willowgrove, Hampton Village, Aspen Ridge.
Risk levels
- High — index 78 and above
- Elevated — index 60–77
- Moderate — index 40–59
- Low — index under 40
Data sources
- Water table depth — median depth to water from WSA water-well driller reports within ~5.5 km of each neighbourhood centroid.
- Clay-dominated soil (regional survey) — average clay-textured share among mapped soil units from the AAFC Saskatchewan Detailed Soil Survey near each neighbourhood. This is a regional map, not a site-specific soil test; urban and newly developed areas are often under-mapped.
- Housing & demographics — dwellings, age of build, owner-occupancy, income, and ward from City of Saskatoon Neighbourhood Profiles.
- City-flagged areas — neighbourhoods publicly named in connection with groundwater and sump-pump concerns.
Neighbourhood-level only — not address-specific. Use alongside a professional home or geotechnical inspection.