Burlington Water Tech

Burlington Water-Tech recommends that you complete an inspection of your well at least once a year.  Here are Five Tips for Caring for Your Well. TIP # 1 Keep your well head clear of brush and debris, and other obstructions.   TIP # 2 Check your well cap for signs of cracking or damage. Have it fixed or replaced right away if there is a problem. The well cap should be firmly attached to the casing. The vent should face the ground and be properly screened to keep out insects. Only air should enter. Clean the air vent regularly to remove debris and moisture.     TIP # 3 Look for problems with the sealant used to fill the annular space between the drilled hole and the well casing. A depression in the ground around the edge of the casing can indicate that the sealant has shrunk, collapsed, or cracked. If you...

How well is your well? Is the top of your drilled well buried underground or inside a concrete chamber below the surface? Perhaps you may need a well upgrade. Quotes are free and always recommended as a good idea for future planning and budgeting. The cost of upgrading your well may be much less than the medical expenses incurred after someone gets ill from some contamination that may have entered your well. Well inspections are also highly recommended by a licensed well technician when purchasing or selling your country home. Home inspections are also needed, however, most home inspectors are not fully qualified as well technicians to determine the state of your well or what upgrades should be done to meet Ontario Ministry Of Environment standards. The picture above shows a well upgrade in progress.  

Regular water tests are a good idea, but even clean Wells can conceal potential problems. Threats include cracks in the casing, dead critters in the water, Wells located in low lying, flood prone areas, or a recessed Well pit, common with older drilled Wells. In the latter scenario, the Well casing usually stops below ground, in the pit; so if surface water floods the pit, it can overflow the top of the casing and carry contaminants into the Well. To get a better idea of what your Well needs, call a licensed well technician.

Typical upgrades for a drilled Well include installing a vermin proof Well cap and extending the casing to 46 centimeters above grade. The higher casing keeps potentially contaminated surface water from flooding the Well, while the cap deters rodents, such as mice and squirrels, and keeps spiders and earwigs from using your Well as an outhouse.

Well Location Make sure the Well is located at a safe distance from any source of contamination such as septic systems, roads and barnyards. A Dug Well should be at least 30 metres away from a septic system while a Drilled Well should be at least 15 metres away. Land Slope The land around a Well should slope away from the Well to prevent surface water from flowing to the Well Casing. Do not store, use, or dispose of garbage, manure, gasoline, salt, pesticides or any other potential contaminant anywhere near the Well. Always get rid of household hazardous wastes by way of the Region's Household Hazardous Waste Program. Remember, waste poured onto the ground can inevitably get into your water supply or your neighbor's. Well Construction The sanitary Well seal and cap should be securely in place and watertight. If the cap is damaged or cracked, replace it immediately. The...

Bacteria - A Halton Well Water Survey showed that up to 60% of all Wells had unacceptable levels of total coli forms. This strongly suggests that disease causing organisms could be present. A major cause of this contamination is insufficient Well maintenance. Coli form organisms are a group of bacteria that are frequently found in the environment and are used to measure the safety of your water. Coli form bacteria are not harmful, but the fact that they are present tells you that other disease-causing organisms may be in your water supply. The presence of more than 5 coli form bacteria in a water sample commonly means that surface water has washed contaminants into the Well. E. Coli bacteria live in the intestines of humans and warm blooded animals. There are many different types of these bacteria. Only a few of them can make you sick. If any amount of E....

Ensure your Well is properly built and located to prevent the direct entryway for surface water.Have your water tested regularly. Testing in the Spring and Fall is recommended as a minimum.Take a sample if your Well has been subjected to flooding.Always take the sample from a newly constructed or renovated Well.If your water supply is equipped with a treatment device, ensure proper maintenance and servicing of the unit. (eg. Chlorinators, Filters, UV Systems, Reverse Osmosis, etc.).Make sure Well Pump and distribution systems are investigated regularly.Changes in the quality and quantity of water should be looked into immediately.

Before disinfecting your Well, investigate and correct possible sources of contamination such as: Surface water running into or collecting near the Well.A defective or improperly installed Well Casing, cover or pipe connection which would allow surface water, animals, insects or plant material to enter the Well. (Well casing not sealed).Nearby septic systems or manure piles, which are within 30M (100ft) of the well.Openings in the well seal.Well casing not being deep enough.A source of contamination not related to the Well Construction.