The following information is from "The Well Aware booklet" compiled by Green Communities Canada, in partnership with the Ontario Ground Water Association.
BE "WELL" AWARE ~ Your family's health depends on it!
Your well taps into one of nature's treasures - cool, clean groundwater.
You and your family depend on this precious resourse every day for cooking, washing and a continuous supply of safe drinking water.
As a private water well owner, it is your job to be "well aware" - to understand the basics of well maintenance and operation, and to take the necessary actions to keep your water wells in safe running order.
To improve your working knowledge of wells and the well life cycle, read the blog sections on groundwater and well location, construction, upgrading, and proper plugging and sealing of unused wells.
GROUNDWATER BASICS
Your well gets its water from an underground water source called groundwater.
Groundwater originates from surface water and precipitation, including rain and melting snow, that has infiltrated the earth, filling the cracks and open spaces in the rocks and the soil. Saturated layers below the water table that store and transmit significant quantities of groundwater - i.e., enough to supply a well - are called aquifers.
Keeping it clean:
Surface spills of contaminants like fuel can infiltrate the soil and contaminate groundwater. The risk of contamination is greatest where the gound surface is highly water permeable, e.g. in areas with course soils or fractured bedrock at or near the surface.
Groundwater can also be contaminated by underground sources, such as leaking fuel storage tanks or malfunctioning septic systems. Poorly constructed or deteriorating wells can act as a direct pipeline for surface pollutants to contaminate the aquifer. Unused and unmaintained wells are a special concern if they haven't been safely plugged and sealed.
Depending on the type of soil or rock, groundwater may be filtered and very clean. But once an aquifer is contaminated, it can take a very long time to recover, if ever.
Groundwater Flows:
It is impossible to determine the exact direction of groundwater flow based on surface features alone. However, we know that water in the aquifer near a pumping well will flow toward the well.
The danger to your well of groundwater contamination is greatest whenthe contaminant source is close to your well. However, on rare occations contaminants have been known to spread over several kilometres.
Separation from Contaminants:
Wells must be located a safe distance from potential sources of contamination such as fuel storage tanks, stockpiles of chemicals like pesticides or road salt, septic systems, gardens, manure piles, livestock, and roads and driveways.
Wells must be separated from potential contaminant sources as follows:
: at least 15 metres (50 feet) for drilled wells with watertight casings that extend 6 metres (20 feet) or more blow ground level
: at least 30 metres (100 feet) for all other wells
These minimum distances do not guarantee safety. Increase the separation wherever possible, and eliminate or reduce sources of contamination.
WELL CONSTRUCTION
A properly constructed well forms an effective barrier against surface run-off that may enter and contaminate the well.
Water must infiltrate and pass downward through the soil and/or rock before it can reach the aquifer from which your well gets its water.
Over the years, well design has improved to reflect advances in technology and our understanding of potential pathways of contamination. Regulation 903 of the Ontario Water Resources Act outlines minimum construction standards for all types of wells. Always hire a contractor licensed by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment who is familiar with these standards.
Well Casing:
New wells should be lined with a watertight casing designed to keep out contaminants. To be effective, this casing must extend to the appropriate depth, i.e., to the part of the aquifer from which the well draws water, or into the bedrock. In any event, it must normally extend at least 6 metres (20 feet) below grade. See Regulation 903 for details. The well casing must also extend at least 40 centimetres (16 inches) above the finished grade to help prevent contamination by surface water and run-off.
Well Pits
Prior to 1985, well pits were commonly used to protect water line connections from freezing. However, well pits are no longer considered safe because they often fill with surface water and debris, leading to contamination. On new wells the well casing must extend above the ground level and a pitless adapter is used to provide a sealed waterline entry at depth so that water lines are protected from freezing.
The Annular Seal
When your well is drilled the hole in the ground is bigger than the well casing. The resulting gap - the annular space- must be filled with a watertight sealant such as bentonite that does not shrink or crack under the ground. For maximum protection, the sealant should extend the full length of the casing. See Regulation 903 for prescribed minimum depths. The annular seal serves as a barrier to run-off, surface water, and near-surface waters that could otherwise travel down the outside of the casing and contaminate the aquifer.
Well Cap
Regulation 903 requires that your drilled well be capped with a commercially manufactured vermin-proof well cap. Modern caps have rubber gaskets and screened vents inside to prevent entry of "foreign material" such as vermin, insects, and decaying plant material. Loose-fitting capes found on older wells make these wells a comfortable home for insects and vermin.
UPGRADING YOUR WELL
It is possible - even likely - that your existing well does not meet the new construction standards described in the preceeding section. What should you do?
Consider upgrading your existing well for the sake of your family's health and safety and the security of your drinking water source.
Talk over your options with an MOE-licensed well contractor who is experienced with upgrades and familiar with conditions in your area.
Upgrade your well or construct a new one???
If there are water quality problems with your existing well, one option is to drill a new well. A new well may be the best way to go if your existing well is:
: badly located, close to permanent sources of contamination, or at risk from flooding
: not producing adequate water supplies
: substandard and cannot be upgraded for technical or regulatory reasons
Do You Have a High Risk Well?
Some wells are at a higher risk of contamination and require extra care and attention.
Consider the following factors:
: shallow wells (less than 6 metres or 20 feet deep) are at higher risk than deeper wells
: dug wells are at higher risk than drilled wells
: older wells are at higher risk than newer wells
Another important risk factor is the type of soil and/or rock between ground surface and the aquifer from which your well draws its water. Put simply, your well is at a lower risk if these materials effectively stop surface contaminants from reaching the aquifer; it is at higher risk if contaminants can infiltrate more rapidly.
For example, course soils like sand and gravel are less effective barrier than thick deposits of fine soils like clay loams or silty clay. If your well is in bedrock, it is at higher risk if fractures extend to ground surface or near the surface.
Groundwater studies for your area may tell you whether local aquifers are more or less susceptible to impacts from surface contaminant sources.
PLUGGING AND SEALING
A well that is no longer used or maintained can become a direct pipeline for surface water or run-off to reach aquifer. Unused and unmaintained wells threaten the groundwater that supplies your well, and possibly your neighbors' wells.
It is your responsibility under REGULATION 903 to ensure that your unused wells are properly plugged and sealed.
Don't try to seal your own well - it is not as easy as it seems. If you simply fill up your unused well with sand, gravel, stones, debris, or garbage, you won't prevent the flow of surface water or run-off into the well. The material in the unused well may even contribute to contamination of your groundwater source.
If an unused and unmaintained well is on your property, you are legally responsible for ensuring that it is plugged and sealed properly.
Hire an MOE-licensed well contractor who has the expertise and equipment to do the job properly, as required under REGULATION 903.
PROTECTING YOUR WELL WATER
As a responsible well owner, you need to carry out a regular program of well maintenance. Taking care of your well is a three step process:
1. Protect your well water at the ground surface by avoiding, eliminating or reducing contaminants
2. Inspect your well regularly and keep your well in good running order
3. Test your well water regularly and respond to contamination problems
Well water protection starts at home
The most immediate threats to the safety of your well water are usually nearby - in your own yard.
As part of your routine well maintenance schedule, walk the grounds within a 30 metre (100 foot) radius of your well. Look for potential threats. A complete search for potential contaminants is recommended, at the same time as you inspect your well. You should also look for changes that could affect your well as part of your daily and weekly routines.
Keep these contaminants away from your well:
: pet and livestock wastes
: gasoline, diesel, home-heating fuels
: pesticides and fertilizers (chemical or natural)
: other hazardous chemicals, including paint, solvents, barbecue starter fluid, etc
: de-icers (used to melt ice on roads, driveways, sidewalks)
: and any other substance you don't want in your family's drinking water
The protection of source waters is the first step in protecting your well water. Source protection is often the most cost-effective way to keep contaminants out of drinking water. And it is almost always less expensive to keep water clean than to try to deal with the consequences of contamination.
POSSIBLE CONTAMINANTS
What could be wrong with my water?
Even though your water may appear to be fine, there are many possible contaminants that you can't taste, see or smell.
Drinking contaminated well water can make you and your family members ill. It can even be fatal!
Bacterial contamination may cause stomach cramps, diarrhea and other problems.
Chemical contamination is equally dangerous. Effects vary.
Total Coliforms
Coliforms are bacteria. Even a low count of total coliforms (1-5) may indicate the presence of other more harmful bacteria with similar life cycles. Caution and retesting is recommended. A higher total coliform count (6-80) is a stronger indicator that disease-causing micro-organisms may be present. Assume that your water is unsafe for drinking without treatment.
E.coli
E.coli is one strain of bacteria associated with human and animal fecal matter. Any detectable presence of E.coli in your well water means your water is unsafe for drinking without treatment.
TESTING YOUR WATER AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR FOR BACTERIA IS RECOMMENDED BY THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF HEALTH.
Call your local health unit, which provides these tests for free of charge. Keep a careful record of well testing results.
Early spring is a good time to test your well water for bacteria. Another good time is the day after a heavy rainfall. Melting snow and running water can carry surface contaminants into your well water. If your well water is safe under these conditions, it is most likely to be safe the rest of the year.
Test regularly even if your water seems fine, because you can't always taste, smell or see bacteria or other contaminants. Don't rely on your neighbor's test results - wells that are only a few steps apart usually have different water quality.
Besides routine testing, you should also test:
: after major plumbing work or well repairs
: if you detect changes in water quality, including taste, odour, and appearance
: if regular well users experience unexplained health problems that may be water-related
: after flooding. (If flooding is common in your area you may want to retrofit your well. Contact MOE-licensed well contractor.)
Initial Testing for Bacteria
A single test for total coliforms and E.coli is not always enough to determine the quality of your well water. If your well has not been tested regularly, submit three samples at least one week apart. Do no send several samples at the same time. If the well consistently shows acceptable coliform and E.coli counts, sample at least three times each year.
How to Sample For Bacteria
The following rules apply to routine sampling for coliforms and E.coli. for other tests follow the sampling rules provided by the testing laboratory.
: use the water sample bottle provided by your testing facility. (The granular material provided in the bottle is sodium thiosulphate and is intended to be there. This material may cause a reaction if ingested or inhaled, therefore bottles should never be handled by young children.)
: do not touch the bottle lid, inside the lid, or inside the bottle - never set the lid down
: do not rinse out the bottle
: select a non-swivel tap - remove aerators and other attachments from your tap
: disinfect the end of the faucet with a chlorine-water mix
: run cold tap water for two to three minutes
: fill sample bottle to the indicator line directly from the tap without changing the flow of the water (overflowing the bottle risks losing the preservative that comes in the bottle)
: replace the cap tightly and complete the form that came with the bottle
: refrigerate the sample after collection and, if possible, transport it in a cooler
: return the sample and form to the health unit or laboratory within 24 hours of collection
RE/MAX GEORGIAN BAY REALTY LTD., BROKERAGE
SERVING GEORGIAN BAY, SEVERN, ORO-MEDONTE, TAY, TINY, MIDLAND, ORILLIA AND MUSKOKA
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