Groundwater, Buildings & Structures

In 1999, Markham's Building Department became aware of a significant groundwater flow on the site of a proposed multi-storey office building. The proponents were required to conduct extensive geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations. Those investigations revealed a complex geological formation that presented potentially problematic groundwater conditions. Apparently solid ground supporting buildings or other structures could be rendered structurally incompetent by groundwater.

Markham's Building Standards Department commissioned a technical paper, "Groundwater and Engineering in the Town of Markham" to alert soils engineers and other design professionals to the existence of this geological formation so that they may account for it in the design and construction of buildings and other structures in Markham.

Download or view the paper:
Groundwater and Engineering in the Town of Markham ( 2.33m/21p)

John Wright
Director Building Standards