wellSMART workshop October 2015 What is Well Smart? Well Smart is an education program to help private well owners protect the quality and supply of their drinking water DRINKING WATER & WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 2 Why be Well Smart? Why be Well Smart? Proper well operation and maintenance can: You are your own water manager • Protect water quality • For you & your family • For the community • For the ecosystem • Ensure your well yield is sustained Photo credit: BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) • Save money on costly repairs RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 3 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 4 Today we’ll be covering Understanding Groundwater Understanding groundwater o Understanding your well o Well protection Water in rock o fractures Drought management o Water testing o Water between grains Water treatment of sand o Photo credit: Natural Resources Canada RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 5 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 6 1
wellSMART workshop October 2015 How a Well Works What kind of well do I have? There are 3 common well installations in the RDN Dug Wells Drilled Wells in Pits Drilled Wells Photo credit: BC FLNRO, Island Health RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 7 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 8 Well Types: Dug Well Types: Drilled Small diameter/ Large diameter/ deep shallow Photo credit: BC FLNRO, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs/ Agriculture (OMAFRA) Photo credit: Island Health, OMAFRA RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 9 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 10 Well Types: Drilled Wells in Pits Well Types: Drilled Wells in Pits Well pit (large cribbing) around top 1.8 – 2.4 m Surface water commonly floods well pits, potentially (6 – 8’) of well carrying debris, bacteria, pesticides, fertilizers, etc. Historically done to protect water line connections Anyone entering pit without proper safety gear risks from freezing asphyxiation (low oxygen, high levels of carbon dioxide) See MoE brochure “Upgrading Wells in Pits” Photo credit: Ministry of Environment (MoE) Photo credit: MoE RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 11 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 12 2
wellSMART workshop October 2015 Well Types Components of a Water Well Shallow dug wells may be higher risk than 1. Borehole drilled wells - Conduit to aquifer 2. Casing/Cribbing - Keep borehole open - Houses pumping equipment The safest water source: Generally, a drilled well into a 3. Surface Seal - Prevents contamination from confined aquifer at a minimum surface depth of 15 metres (49 feet) - Prevents mixing of aquifers 4. Well Intake - Allows groundwater into the well - Slotted liner/casing or screen Photo credit: BC Ground Water Association Photo credit: Alberta Working Well Program RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 13 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 14 Components of a Water Well Well Records • Date of construction Understanding your 5. Pitless Adaptor or Sanitary 7 Seal well record: - Water-tight connection to distribution system 5 • Address and 6. Pump • Owners - Properly matched to • Geology recommended pumping rate • Construction 6 7. Well Cap • Depth, Water - Protects well from direct Level, Yield contamination • Driller • Location Photo credit: Alberta Working Well Program RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 15 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 16 Groundwater Laws in BC Well Protection Factors influencing water quality & quantity : • Protects groundwater supplies by Water Act (Water requiring all wells to be properly Sustainability Act), 1. Aquifer properties constructed, maintained, and closed Groundwater Protection Regulation at end of service (BC FLNRO) 2. Location • Prohibits disposal of waste without a Environmental 3. Construction & set-up Management Act permit (MoE) 4. Maintenance • Protects water supplies by prohibiting Drinking Water 5. Operation contamination of a water source Protection Act (Island Health / Ministry of Health) 6. Proper closure RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 17 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 18 3
wellSMART workshop October 2015 1. Aquifer Properties 1. Seawater Intrusion • Seawater intrusion is the process of saltwater from the ocean contaminating fresh groundwater • Caused by: 1. Drilling into saline groundwater 2. Pumping • Impact on freshwater may be long-term or permanent Photo credit : Natural Resources Canada RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 19 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 20 2. Well Location 2. Well Location 30 metres or 100 feet from potential Photo credit: Ontario Ministry of contaminant sources including: Health Pesticides Septic Fields Vehicles Storage Tanks Fertilizer Contaminated Runoff Fuel Waste Animals Etc. • High elevation • 30m / 100 ’ away from potential • Secure, dry area contaminant sources • Avoid wells in pits • Not in basement RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 21 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 22 3. Construction & Set-up: 3. Construction & Set-up ID Plates Standards for well All new wells must have identification plates construction protect the health of your family and the aquifer. • All drilled wells, and dug wells more than 15m deep, must be constructed by a provincially registered well driller • Available from the well driller All pumps must be installed by a provincially registered pump installer Photo credit : BC FLNRO RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program Photo credit: BC FLNRO 23 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 24 4
wellSMART workshop October 2015 3. Construction & Set-up: 3. Construction & Set-up: Well Caps Well Caps Different types of well caps… Wells must have a water-tight, vermin-proof cap * * Well seal cap, • Dug well * Not insect proof 4 metal pieces Photo credit : BC FLNRO held together • Drilled wells by bolts do not take off yourself, can fall down well RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 25 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 26 3. Construction & Set-up: 3. Construction & Set-up: Surface Seal Surface Seal A surface seal prevents contaminants from entering a well along the outside of the casing An improper surface seal allows contaminants into the well Photo credit : Alberta Working Well Program Photo credit : MoE Photo credit : BC FLNRO Photo credit : Alberta Working Well Program RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 27 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 28 4. Well Protection: 5. Well Operation Good Maintenance • Inspect the wellhead 1. Controlling pumping in well • Properly maintain septic system o Adjust pump depth setting o Pumping on timer (well • Have water quality tested on a regular basis “sipping”) • Keep wellhead and pump house in good repair o Pump to storage tank not directly to pressure tank and free of contaminants o Install a shut-off valve • Disinfect the well and water system if: 2. Increasing water storage – Work is done on the well o ie. pump in wet season, install rainwater collection system, – Water testing indicates bacterial buy water contamination Photo credit : buildingadvisor.com – After a flood if surface water entered well RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 29 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 30 5
wellSMART workshop October 2015 6. Well Protection: 5. Well Operation Properly Close Improperly closed wells create a direct 3. Monitoring pathway for groundwater contamination o Groundwater levels Water o Meter water use Water meter level photo credit : photo credit : bmeters.com heroninstruments.com o Electrical conductivity o Water quality testing (include chloride) 4. Early detection & elimination of leaks o no “pump on demand” systems Acoustic well sounder photo credit : enoscientific.com RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 31 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 32 6. Well Protection: Wellhead Protection … Properly Close Starts with Inspection What’s wrong with this photo? Photo credit : BC MoE What caused this ring? Drilled wells: Must use a provincially registered and qualified well driller to complete the work All Wells: Must follow Groundwater Protection Regulation standards and the Water Act / Water Sustainability Act Photo Credit: BC FLNRO RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 33 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 34 Wellhead Protection Wellhead Protection Photo Credit: BC Photo Credit: BC FLNRO FLNRO What’s wrong with these photos? What’s wrong with these photos? RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 35 RDN Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Program 36 6
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