Transcript Mary Jane Conboy - Elmvale Water Festival

Protecting Private Wells
Mary Jane Conboy
Well Wise Resource Centre
www.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 Approach
www.wellwise.ca
Emerging Threats
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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
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Year Long study
400 Online Survey Participants
346 Post Card Surveys
6 focus groups
Barriers to Well Maintenance
Professional Well technician Owner %
%
%
lack of awareness
financial burden or
cost
Availability of Well
contractors ( not
enough)
88
85
83
88
53
52
22
12
14
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
1991 -1992
1950 - 1954
• 484 wells sampled • 1200 wells sampled
• 14% high for nitrate • 14% high for nitrate
• 34 % high for
• 15% high for
bacteria
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.
High Risk versus Low Risk geology
Making Everyone Well Aware
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
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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
Your well is important
for your family and farm.
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.
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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.
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 Conboy
Well Wise Resource Centre
5331 Main St. Orono, Ontario L0B 1M0
www.wellwise.ca, 905-983-9911