Protecting Private Wells Mary Jane Conboy

Well Wise Resource Centrewww.wellwise.ca

•750,000 registered wells in Ontario. • Approximately 1.5 million abandoned wells. • 10,000 - 20,000 new wells drilled per year.

• Majority are drilled wells (58%-71%).

•89% of wells observed in home visits need a repair.

•Generally, groundwater is clean, reliable and sustainable supply.

The Life Cycle ApproachThe Life Cycle Approach

www.wellwise.ca

Emerging Threats• The Expert panel looking at private

wells considered a number of potential threats and suggested ways to manage different problems.

• Wells that are not maintained, not tested and abandoned are the biggest concern for sustainable wells in Ontario.

• Private wells represent a pathway for contaminants to reach aquifers, and must be considered in source protection.

Needs Assessment

• Year Long study• 400 Online Survey Participants• 346 Post Card Surveys• 6 focus groups

Professional %

Well technician %

Owner %

lack of awareness

88 83 53

financial burden or cost

85 88 52

Availability of Well contractors ( not enough)

22 12 14

Barriers to Well Maintenance

Other barriers --poor advice from neighbours or unqualified professionals and “trust issues”

Older, vulnerable design

Bad well locations

Common problems- well owners

Test your Well Water Quality

1950 - 1954• 484 wells sampled• 14% high for

nitrate• 15% high for

bacteria

1991 -1992• 1200 wells sampled• 14% high for nitrate• 34 % high for

bacteria• 6 wells exceeded

for pesticides

OFA Rural Water Quality testing program – Bacteria, nitrate and sodium are the most commonly observed health related parameters exceeding ODWS

Keep the well water tight and watch activities around the well.

Making Everyone Well Aware

High Risk versus Low Risk geology

Finished above grade, sealants and soil tapered away from well

Well Decommissioning• Abandoned wells are

direct avenues to aquifers.• Improperly retired wells

can increase the risk of contamination entering your well.

• A well that has been decommissioned should not impact the future use of that land.

• Vertical migration of fluids must be blocked.

Decommissioning

Old well is now filled with proper sealants.

The tremie pipe displaces the water

column from the base of the well.

Decommissioning drilled well – well casing is cut off 4 – 6 feet below ground and filled with hole plug.

Well pit is removed.

The area is backfilled and graded.

Solutions – from Needs Assessment

• Education and easy access to information was identified as the best way to help well owners maintain their wells (Owners (44%), Professionals (60%), Well technicians (44%)).

• Regular and free water testing (Owners (18), Professionals (11%) and Well technicians(2%) and

• Funding for well work (Owners (14%), Professionals (29%) and Well technicians (25%).

Funding Programs• Raise Awareness • Spark Action to address

problem wells.• Needs Assessment

participants indicated that the greater the level of funding, the more likely that wells will be decommissioned.

• Programs need to be available across the province.

www.wellwise.ca

Well Wise Province-wide Water Testing

• Available to any well owner• 5 different water testing packages• 6 Soil Testing packages• Working with Agri-food and Maxxam

labs• Brochures distributed through health

units, conservation authorities, Well Aware field staff, and other locations (35 000 since May).

• Well Wise water testing program replaces OFA testing program.

Guided Self Assessment

• 89% of the wells were in need of repair.

• Only 1/3 test their water regularly for bacteria

• 90% never test beyond bacteria

• 20% had a well needing to be decommissioned

• Half of the participants needed to pump their septic tank.

Water Well Identification in Rural Areas Volunteers

Wanted!A sign marking the location of your

well reminds anyone around it that this is an important location and encourages proper environmental practices.

• Staff will install sign and check your well.

• Participants are provided with a resource package and short report about your well.

• Information and assistance with water testing is provided.

Your well is important for your family and farm.

For more information or to volunteer visit : www.wellwise.ca or call 905-983-9911

Children’s program• 2- hour program that is

aimed at primary students• Classrooms and attend

groundwater festivals• Books, stickers, tattoos• Messy hands on crafts,

demonstrations and activity sheets

• Delivery in Durham and Oxford .

• Will expand to other areas of the province with time.

Virtual Resource Centre

Questions?

Thank you.

• For Further information visit our booth at the festival

Mary Jane ConboyWell Wise Resource Centre5331 Main St. Orono, Ontario L0B 1M0www.wellwise.ca, 905-983-9911