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| Ontario’s New Water Well Regulations |
|
| Guidelines for well owners; important facts
for Realtors |
August 2006 |
 |
Ontarians deserve access to clean, safe water. This means keeping water free of
pollutants and contaminants that could harm the environment and human health.
Over three million Ontarians rely on
groundwater for their drinking water. There are hundreds of thousands of water
wells across Ontario, providing drinking water to municipalities, industries and
private residences.
The Government of Ontario is moving forward
on a series of initiatives to preserve water quality, including new legislation,
regulations, standards and requirements. Ontario now has the toughest standards
and protocols for drinking water in North America.
Wells providing water to small businesses,
common spaces and residential communities may qualify as "regulated systems."
Private wells are not regulated systems, but there are new rules in place for
constructing or decommissioning (abandoning) a well.
Private owners are required by regulation to
ensure that nothing gets into water wells that could contaminate the water
source.
|
Green Facts: Important facts about water well construction
(General Interest Publication)
See Ontario's Wells Regulation (Reg. 903) for more information
(Detailed Regulations)
Guidelines for Well Owners
Groundwater is a shared resource that
crosses property lines and contamination from one well can put other wells at
risk. Owners are responsible for getting well water tested regularly – at least
three times per year is recommended, to be confident drinking water is free from
bacteria and other contaminants.
What to do:
-
Make sure your well is properly constructed and
maintained.
-
Inspect your well at least once
a year to see what repairs may be needed.
-
Have a sample of your well water
tested at least three times a year.
-
Water testing is offered by the
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
-
Sample bottles are available from public health labs
and local health units.
-
Get a list of labs that can test
your water for chemical contaminants.
-
Disinfect all wells prior to
use with a concentration of 50 milligrams of chlorine per litre of water
standing for at least 12 hours.
-
Refer to the disinfection instructions
which are part of the current well regulation.
-
Get a copy of the Water Well
Record that was filed after the well on your property was built, or get a
Licensed Well Technician to test and evaluate your well.
-
Properly plug and seal unused wells to prevent rapid
movement of contaminants down into groundwater.
-
Dispose of hazardous materials
properly, pump out your septic tank every two years, and plan on replacing
your septic system leaching bed every 20-25 years.
-
If you need to treat your water,
select a treatment system with great care to ensure it will be effective in
your particular situation.
What not to do
-
Never use untreated surface water for drinking water –
untreated surface water is considered unsafe for human
consumption!
-
Don’t pour water into a well with a low water level – this will
undermine the foundation of the well.
-
Don’t use a highly vulnerable water supply unless all other attempts
to develop an alternative supply have been unsuccessful.
Government Websites
Ontario Ministry
of Environment:
www.ene.gov.on.ca
Ontario Ministry of Health:
www.health.gov.on.ca
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture:
www.omafra.gov.on.ca
Health Canada: www.hc-sc.gc.ca
It’s a good idea to learn the important
facts about water well construction, and the protection of water quality in dug,
bored and drilled wells.
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