Protect the safety of your private drinking water well.

Well water issues and groundwater contamination can come from a variety of unsuspected sources. Abandoned or unused wells must be decommissioned to prevent serious health and safety concerns. Contact your local Conservation Authority for more information.
Practicing best management when it comes to your well and your own water includes avoiding some of the following activities:

Avoid the following:

• Never allow liquid or waste from garbage or manure piles to drain towards the well
• Never locate a dog run near the well
• Never treat the area around the well with pesticides or fertilizer (this is one reason why
  planting shrubs or flower beds immediately around your well head is not the best idea)
• Never flush oil, detergent, paint, medication, solvents, or other chemicals down the toilet
• Never drive or park motorized vehicles near your well head
• Never ignore an abandoned well or use it as a garbage pit

Perhaps you’ve moved to the country and found yourself the owner of a water well or maybe you’ve relied upon a well for most of your life.
It is when you need to help that you will want to know the basics about well maintenance. A well maintenance check up should be apart of a well owner’s routine.
A list of licensed well contractors in Ontario is available at www.ontario.ca. A well check-up should include the following:
1. Flow Test to determine system output and check the water level before and during pumping. Check your pump motor performance by reviewing the amp load, grounding, and line voltage. Examination of the pressure tank and pressure switch contact is also important along with looking at general water quality (odour, cloudiness, etc.).
2. Inspection of Well Equipment is to assure it is sanitary and meets local code requirements
3. Test water regularly for coliform bacteria and nitrates. Free testing kits are available from the Health Unit or Municipality.