Caring for Your Well
Half of the people living in the Quinte Source Protection Area depend on groundwater for their drinking water source. If you have a well on your property, make sure that it is maintained to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination. An old, unused, or improperly maintained well can be a direct path for contaminants to reach sources of drinking water.
As a well owner it is your responsibility to be ‘well aware' and to keep your water source safe.
Here are some things you can do to keep your well water safe:
- Know exactly where your well is
- Keep potential sources of contamination away from your well
- Inspect your well regularly and have any necessary repairs or upgrades done by a licensed well contractor
- Make sure your well has a proper cap to prevent the entry of seepage or insects
- Maintain your septic system as this can be a source of contamination
- Have your water tested regularly to detect any problems so they can be fixed
- Have a licensed well contractor decommission old unused wells on your property
More Information:
- Best Practices for Source Water Protection
- Fact Sheet: What Well and Borehole Drillers Need to Know About Drinking Water Source Protection
- Find a well record on the provincial government's website
- Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health website
- How Do I Care For My Private Well from Conservation Ontario
- Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks' Wells on our Property webpage
- Quinte Conservation's Groundwater Threat Inventory Quiz
- Quinte Conservation's Groundwater video
- The Ontario Groundwater Association webpage
- Water Supply Wells: Requirements and Best Practices
- Well Aware: A guide to caring for your well