Be Well Aware - Information for private well owners

Introduction

About 3 million people in Canada rely on a private well for their drinking water. If you are one of them, this information is for you.

The Be Well Aware series will help you take the right steps to protect your well water from bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals that could make you sick. Let’s work together to keep Canadian drinking water safe by learning how to:

Build and maintain your well – choose a safe location for your well and check to make sure your well is sealed and in good shape.

Test your well water – find out what is in your well water and what your test results mean for your health.

Protect and clean your well – spot possible contamination near your well, and know what to do if there are signs that your well needs to be cleaned.

Treat your well water – find out if your well water needs to be treated, know where to go for help and advice on selecting, installing and maintaining your equipment.

Ensure your well water is safe during and after emergencies – know what to do when flooding, droughts or other events affect the quality of your well water.

Water that fills the spaces between layers of soil, sand and rock in the ground is commonly called groundwater. This is the water that supplies your well.

As water from rain or melting snow soaks deeper into the ground, the particles in the ground act like a filter, helping to clean the water as it travels deeper. However, that doesn’t mean that groundwater is free of contaminants. It may not always be of good quality due to natural or human contamination.

Remember: if you are the owner of a private well, it is your responsibility to ensure that the quality of your well water is protected.