Water well drilling records combined with geologic observation around Sylvan Lake suggest a permeable, fractured groundwater-bearing channel sandstone extends along the northeast margin of the lake, and is surrounded by a matrix of shale with small sandy interbeds. Chloride and water isotope mass-balance approaches found groundwater fluxes were 37 to 43% of total annual lake water inputs, and were consistent with Darcy flux estimates for the channel sandstone. The groundwater contribution to the lake water budget contributes to an estimated lake-water residence time ranging from 22 to 30 years, which is much lower than other lakes in the region and lakes of similar size. Groundwater through-flow in the hydraulically connected channel sandstone unit of the Paskapoo Formation appears to play a critical role in maintaining the relatively low total dissolved solids (and trophic status) of Sylvan Lake, as compared to other lakes in south-central Alberta. Due to the hydraulic connection of the sandstone channel with Sylvan Lake, land use along the north side of the lake (above the sandstone channel unit) should be carefully considered to mitigate groundwater (and consequently lake water) quality impacts.

水井钻探记录与西尔万湖周围的地质观测结果相结合，表明一条可渗透，破裂的含地下水的河道砂岩沿湖的东北边缘延伸，周围环绕着页岩基质和小砂质夹层。氯化物和水同位素的质量平衡方法发现，地下水通量占年度湖泊总水输入量的37％至43％，并且与河道砂岩的达西通量估计值一致。地下水对湖泊水预算的贡献使湖泊水的停留时间估计在22至30年之间，这比该地区其他湖泊和类似规模的湖泊要低得多。与艾伯塔省中南部的其他湖泊相比，帕斯卡普奥组水力连通的通道砂岩单元中的地下水通流在保持西尔万湖相对较低的总溶解固体（和营养状态）方面起着关键作用。由于砂岩河道与西尔万湖之间存在液压连接，因此应仔细考虑沿湖北侧（砂岩河道单元上方）的土地利用，以减轻对地下水（进而对湖水）质量的影响。