Wells

There are three key items to consider:

• well system
• water quantity
• water quality
• Well Systems

There are three common types of wells: dug, bored and drilled.

Dug and bored wells

Are commonly used to produce water from shallow surface aquifers and they are prone to contamination from surface water infiltration and to water shortages (see Figure 1). Another type of well used in surface aquifers is a sand point well which is a pointed well screen connected to a small diameter pipe driven into water-bearing sand or gravel.

Drilled wells

Are commonly used to penetrate deeper aquifers (50 to greater than 200 ft. deep), are more costly to construct, but generally provide a safer source of drinking water (see Figure 2).

Common features of well systems include:

Well Inspection Checklist

The well should be inspected before the house is purchased. If there is a problem with the physical state of the well (for example, cracked seals, settled casing) contact a licensed well contractor to correct the problem.

Well Record

Obtain a copy of the well record from the owner or the Ministry of the Environment. This should include: location of well, date of well drilling, depth and diameter of well, static water level, pumping water level, recommended pumping rate and the recommended pump setting.

Location

(Figure 3) A well should be located at least 15 m (50 ft.) from any source of contamination if the casing is watertight to a depth of 20 feet, otherwise, the separation distance should be at least 100 feet. Sources of contamination include: septic systems, manure storages, fuel storages, agricultural fields (manure or fertilizer runoff), roads (salt runoff). Wells should be located at least 15 m (50 ft.) from a body of water.

Well Cap

The cap should be at least 12 inches above the ground. The well cap and seal should be securely in place and watertight. A locking cap would give some added security against tampering. Well caps are on drilled wells and well covers are on dug wells. Both types should be inspected.

Well Casing

No cracks or settling of the casing should be visible. The ground should slope away from the casing.

Drainage

Surface water should drain away from the well and water should not pond around the well casing.

Well Pump

The well pump and distribution piping should be in good condition.

Grass Buffer

A permanent grass buffer of a minimum 12 feet in width should be maintained around the well head. Fertilizers and pesticides should not be applied to the grass buffer.

Abandoned Wells

All abandoned wells on a property must be decommissioned (plugged) by a licensed well contractor. Ask the owner if there are any abandoned wells on the property and if they have been properly decommissioned.

Inside the House

Check for sand or grit in the faucet strainer which indicates a corroded well screen. Verify that the pressure tank reads between 250 to 400 kPa (40 and 60 psi). Ensure that the check valve (or foot valve) is able to sustain the system pressure by drawing no water for 30 minutes to an hour and monitoring the pressure. The pressure should not drop nor should the pump start up during this dormant period.

Water Quantity

Wells draw water from aquifers, which are zones of saturated permeable soil or rock. Some types of soil make for good aquifers, such as gravel and fractured bedrock that
can support high water pumping rates, while other types of soil make for poor aquifers, such as silty sand and clay that cannot support high water pumping rates.

Wells can run dry for the following reasons:

• The pumping rate is higher than the groundwater recharge rate.
• The water table (level of saturated water in the soil) has dropped to below the pump suction or inlet.
• The well screen has become plugged by fine sand, chemical precipitation, bacterial fouling or corrosion.
• If a well vent becomes blocked, a negative pressure may occur (in the well) during draw down and reduce or stop the pump from drawing water.

If there is a water supply problem, consult a licensed well contractor. Solutions will vary from conservation, repair or replacement of the well. The cost of fixing the problem should be considered when negotiating the sale price for the home.

There are three sources of information to help determine if a well can produce a sufficient quantity of water:

• local knowledge
• well record
• water recovery test

Local Knowledge

The best indication of whether there is sufficient water supply is to ask the owner, neighbours or local well drillers if there have been any problems with wells running dry on the property and in the area. Generally, shallow wells are more likely to have problems with water shortages than deep wells.

Well Record

Obtain a copy of the well record from the previous owner or the Ministry of the Environment. The pumping water level indicates if the well is shallow or deep (less 50 feet is considered a shallow well). The recommended pumping rate should be greater than 14 litres per minute (3.6 US gal/min).

Water Recovery Test

A licensed contractor can be hired to conduct a recovery test which involves pumping water out of a well and then giving it time to recharge. This can help you determine how much water you can draw from the well. A well should be able to pump 14 litres per minute (3.6 US gal/min) for 120 minutes or 450 litres per person per day (119 US gal/person/day). A recovery test can cost $200-$300.

Water Quantity Checklist

• Ask the owner, neighbours or a local well contractor if there have been any problems with the well or area wells running dry.
• Verify the depth of the well and pumping rate from the well record. A surface well is more likely to run dry in times of drought.
• Have a licensed well contractor conduct a recovery test, if necessary.

Water Quality

The quality of the well water is very important. Poor water quality can lead to health problems, unpleasant taste and odour, and costly treatment systems and/or the costly use of bottled water. Well water can be contaminated with bacteria and chemicals. Common sources of contamination include infiltration from septic systems, manure runoff, pet waste, or road chemicals as well as dissolved chemicals naturally present in the groundwater such as calcium, sulphur, chloride or iron.

Water Sampling

Your offer of purchase should always include a requirement that closing is conditional upon an acceptable water quality evaluation. It would be ideal to take three water samples, about a week apart, with one of the samples taken after a rainstorm when surface water contamination is most likely. If possible, take the water samples yourself or have your agent do it (not the seller or seller's agent). The three samples should be analyzed for: total coliform, E. coli, and nitrate (~$30 each time) while one of the samples should also be analyzed for: sodium, hardness, sulphate, chloride, lead, iron, manganese and pH (~$80). Ask the laboratory to indicate the drinking water standards along with the results. Additional analyses can be conducted including: metals scan (~$70), pesticides if the well is in an agricultural area with heavy pesticide use (~$250), or gasoline and solvents if the well is near a gas station or industrial area (~$70).

All these costs are for a private company to do the tests. Simcoe County Health Unit has a laboratory in Orillia (on Memorial Ave.) that will do Bacteria and nitrate tests for free, (and in this area, that's usually all you need) they will also provide appropriate sterile sampling bottles.

If possible, samples should be taken from a tap between the well pump and any water treatment units and/ or pressure tank. Follow the directions on the sample submission form for proper water sampling procedures. If sampling from a standard kitchen tap, remove any screens or aerators, some people also sterilize the opening with a lighter flame before testing. (Make a note to yourself - replace those screens regularly, they hold a lot of gunk)

Test Results – What They Mean

If concentrations are higher than the limits described below, consult a water treatment systems supplier to determine if a water treatment technology is appropriate. It is preferable to get several quotations.

Health Indicators

Aesthetic indicators

Drilling a New Well

The cost of a new well depends on the depth of the well and the local market. Consult a professional to determine cost for your particular situation. Even then, they may only be able to provide a rough estimate, you don't know where the water is until you find it.

To summarize, here's a water quality checklist

• Water sampled on three different dates—preferably a week apart— from a tap between the well pump and any water treatment units and/or pressure tank for: total coliform, E. coli and nitrate.
• Water sampled once for: sodium, hardness, sulphate, chloride, lead, iron, manganese and pH.
• Obtain copies of previous water quality test results from the homeowner. Ask if there have been any water quality problems: frequent stomach illness (bacteria), odours (hydrogen sulphide, methane), rust spots (iron), scale (hardness), slime growth in faucets (iron or manganese), salty taste (chloride), bitter taste (sulphate).
• Review with the owner the operation and reason for any water treatment systems (water softener, disinfection system, reverse osmosis system, chlorination unit, etc.). Ask to see all treatment device operating manuals.
• Sample a glass of water for taste (salty, bitter), odours (hydrogen sulphide, methane), cloudiness (small particles) and colour (a rusty colour can indicate a high iron content). Remember you will be drinking this water every day.
• Look for scale on fixtures or around the faucets indicating hard water. Lift the lid and inspect the back of the toilet tank (the cistern) for sand, sediment, rust particles, scaling, biological growth and any other visual clues which may indicate water problems.
• Is there a "rotten egg" smell from the hot water heater? This indicates hydrogen sulphide gas, which can corrode piping.

Although there is a lot to consider, don't let this discourage you from buying a home with a well. Many people prefer well water to tap water, it can be much better tasting, free of chemicals and, well, free. With the proper precautions you can enjoy a bountiful supply of clean, fresh water every day with no water meter.