If you have a private well, it is your responsibility to protect and maintain the well. Water wells should be sampled and tested regularly to help ensure that the water is safe for consumption. Good well management includes designating an appropriate well location and practicing good housekeeping around the well. Keep an adequate distance between your well and potential contaminant sources, including septic systems, pesticides, fertilizers and other sources of nutrients and hazardous materials. In general, the potential for well water to become contaminated decreases as the distance between the well and the sources of contamination increases.

The quality of well water also depends, in part, on the condition of the well. Sediments and natural chemicals in the groundwater can accumulate and reduce a well’s ability to supply water. In 1998, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment found that the occurrence of well water quality degradation in Ontario was directly related to the type, depth and age of the well. Dug wells, shallow wells, and older wells (over 60 years) were more impacted by human activities than were drilled wells, deeper wells and newer wells.

To help ensure a good supply of safe drinking water, employ a licensed professional to inspect your well. Loose caps and leaking well casings are pathways for contaminants to enter groundwater. For this reason, it is important to take preventative measures:

1. Make sure caps are securely in place and are vermin-proof (to prevent other potential sources of contamination, such as insects and small animals).
2. If a well casing has any holes or cracks, have a licensed contractor repair it.
3. Ensure that there is an impermeable sealant filling the gap between the outside of the well casing and the edge of the surrounding hole in the ground. Lack of sealant, improper selection of sealant, improper placement of the sealant, and accidental collision with the casing (a common occurrence) can all result in contaminated surface water running freely down the outside of the casing to the bottom of the well. There are other steps that private well owners can take to protect wells:
4. Keep cars, trucks and other heavy machinery away from the wellhead because they can damage the well casing;
5. Make sure that proper venting techniques are in place to prevent the build-up of noxious gases in the wells;
6. Install backflow devices on all taps with hose connections to prevent water from siphoning back into the well;
7. Ensure that water does not pond around the well. Make sure the ground around the well is mounded and that surface water in the area is directed away from the well;
8. Do not allow liquids or wastes from garbage and manure piles to drain towards the well casing;
9. Do not treat the area around the well with pesticides or fertilizers
10. Do not flush oils, detergents, paints, solvents or other chemicals down the toilet;
11. Keep records on the location and status of all wells (and septic systems) on the property. The property owner is also responsible for all unused and abandoned wells. Abandoned or unused wells that are not maintained properly can cause water problems in other nearby wells and affect entire aquifers. Hire a licensed contractor to properly plug and seal the well, and keep records of any work done.