Well Aware and Well Wise Program Resources for Homeowners
Well Aware
Well Aware was a program of Green Communities Canada that encouraged Ontario’s residential well owners to protect their wells and our common groundwater supplies.
Since 2001, Well Aware has helped more than 3,900 Ontarians to gain confidence in the management of their wells and to protect their family’s drinking water. An additional 217,000 residents have benefited from our Well Aware booklet, “A Guide to Caring for your Well.”
Well Aware Booklet – A Guide to Caring for Your Well
Well Wise
The Well Wise Water Testing Program is administered by the Ontario Ground Water Association for consumers and well contractors.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
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Well Construction and Licensing
The licensing of well contractors and technicians promotes and supports enforcement of safe environmental practices to maintain the health of Ontario’s groundwater resources. You will need a well technician license or employ a person with a well technician license to construct, maintain, repair or upgrade a well.
This collection of resources was assembled for well contractors, technicians and anyone interested in learning the rules for constructing, maintaining or making repairs to a water well.
Rules for the person who is constructing a new water supply well.
You can also find the full set of requirements for well construction and licensing at:
Find a Contractor
- Find Licensed Well Contractors – Use this directory to find licensed well contractors.
- Find an Ontario Ground Water Association (OGWA) Member Contractor in your Area – Use this directory to find a contractor.
Licensing & Records
- Well Contractor License – How to apply for and renew a well contractor license so you can operate a well construction business.
- Well Technician License – How to apply for and renew a well technician license, as well as add a new class(es).
- Well Records – How to complete, submit or get a copy of a well record.
Technical Bulletins for Ontario’s Wells Regulation
- Completing the New Well’s Structure
- Completing the Structure of the New Test Hole or Dewatering Well
- Constructing New Multi-Level Monitoring Test Holes
- Constructing New Test Holes & Dewatering Wells
- Constructing New Test Holes & Dewatering Wells in Operation for No Longer than 180 Days
- Constructing New Uncased Test Holes & Dewatering Wells in Operation for No Longer than 30 Days
- Exempted Activities Performed on Wells, Including Test Holes & Dewatering Wells
- Flowing Test Holes and Dewatering Wells
- Flowing Wells
- Installing Equipment in a Well
- Licensing (Class 5) for individuals who Perform Tests on Wells
- New Construction of the Hole, Casing, Well Screen and Annular Space
- Shallow Works Test Holes and Dewatering Wells
- Site Considerations & Initial Planning for Test Holes & Dewatering Wells
- Siting a New Well
- Test Hole and Dewatering Well Licensing
- Test Hole & Dewatering Well Maintenance
- Test Hole & Dewatering Well Repairs & Alterations
- Test holes and dewatering wells – Requirements and best management practices
- Understanding the Meaning of Well, Test Hole and Dewatering Well
- Water Supply Wells: Requirements and Best Practices
- Well Abandonment: How to Plug and Seal a Test Hole or Dewatering Well
- Well Abandonment: How to Plug and Seal a Well
- Well Abandonment: When to Plug and Seal a Well
- Well Construction Licensing
- Well Disinfection
- Well Maintenance
- Well Record, Reporting & Tagging for a Test Hole & Dewatering Wells
- Well Repairs and Other Alterations
Well Technician Training
- Fleming College – Ontario Well Technician training courses at Fleming College including courses to obtain your license and courses to maintain your license.
- Lusk Geo Inc. – Provides training in groundwater, water wells, geothermal systems and Well Technician Licensing.
Associations
- Ontario Ground Water Association – a not for profit association consisting of professional members who are involved in the ground water industry in Ontario. They include — Well Drillers, Environmental/Geotechnical Drillers, Pump Installers, Manufacturers and Suppliers, as well as Scientists and Engineers. Included are the company owners as well as their employees.
- Canadian Water Quality Association – representing the Canadian water quality improvement industry.
- Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association – representing the onsite and decentralized wastewater industry in Ontario, including educators, regulators, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, and other parties.
- Hydrogeologists Without Borders – a Canadian non-profit organization and registered charity, based in Calgary.
- Canadian National Ground Water Association – a Canadian non-profit consisting of members of the ground water industry across Canada.
- Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO) – governs the practice of professional geoscience in Ontario.
- Professional Engineers of Ontario – the licensing and regulating body for engineering in the province.
Water Testing
- Well Wise Water Testing Program– administered by the Ontario Ground Water Association. This program provides cost effective water testing for things other than bacteria in your water. Metals, minerals, salts, fuels, solvents, fluoride, mercury, sulfate, tannin/lignin, pesticides/herbicides, and glyphosates. Test bottles are shipped to you with return freight included. Not for Profit water testing.
- Public Health Unit (PHU) Testing – Find your local PHU for information on free well water testing for E. Coli and Coliform bacteria. Check your water spring, summer, and fall.
- List of Licensed Laboratories in Ontario – This is a list of laboratories licensed to perform drinking water tests in Ontario. Prior to submitting samples please contact the licensed laboratory for pricing .
- Testing Well Water – An instructional video on how to take an accurate sample of your well water for E. Coli and Coliform bacteria testing.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Photo from Luskgeo.com
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Wells Technical Bulletins
The Wells Regulation helps to ensure that groundwater quality, well water quality, and the environment are protected. The following series of technical bulletins were created for water supply well owners.
They summarize information found in the Water Supply Wells: Requirements and Best Management Practices manual published by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
Technical Bulletins
- Completing the New Well’s Structure
- Flowing Wells
- Installing Equipment in a Well
- New Construction of the Hole, Casing, Well Screen and Annular Space
- Siting a New Well
- Well Abandonment: When to Plug and Seal a Well
- Well Abandonment: How to Plug and Seal a Well
- Well Construction Licensing
- Well Disinfection
- Well Maintenance
- Well Repairs and Other Alterations
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Private Wells
This post provides information to homeowners related to operating and maintaining their private water supply wells.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Water Supply Wells: Requirements and Best Practices – Best management practices and recommended techniques that help a person constructing a well to go beyond the minimum standards set by the Ontario Wells Regulation and better protect and minimize adverse impacts to our environment.
Best Management Practices: Water Wells – A hardcopy publication that can be ordered through Service Ontario for well owners. Explains well components, maintenance, new well construction requirements and procedures for unused wells.
Private Well Water Manual – A Quick Users Guide – A manual produced by the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit for homeowners either installing a new well on their property or for those who have questions about an existing well.
Wells on Your Property – Information and rules for residential well owners for the proper location, construction, maintenance and abandonment of a well from the Ministry of the Environment of Ontario.
Water Supply Wells: Technical Bulletins – A series of technical bulletins on well issues created for a person who currently owns a water supply well. The purpose is to summarize the information found in the Water Supply Wells – Requirements and Best Management Practices manual published by the Ministry of the Environment of Ontario.
Well Records – Directions on how to complete, submit or get a copy of a well record in Ontario.
Well Records Map – This map allows you to search and view well record information from reported wells in Ontario.
Be Well Aware, Information for Private Well Owners – 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. Produced by Health Canada.
Water Well Care Info Sheets – The Water Systems Council has developed a complete library of water well care information sheets to educate well owners about the basics of their well system, the importance of water well maintenance, keeping good records, water well testing and understanding your results, and how to protect and conserve your water supply for years to come.
Well Aware Booklet – A Guide to Caring for Your Well – The Well Aware booklet was compiled by Green Communities Canada, in partnership with the Ontario Ground Water Association, with financial support from Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
Well Aware Video – Since 2001, Well Aware has helped more than 3,900 Ontarians to gain confidence in the management of their wells and to protect their family’s drinking water. This video accompanies the booklet compiled by Green Communities Canada, the Ontario Ground Water Association and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
Water Well Basics – Knowing the basics about water wells is important whether you are planning a well, are a new well owner, or have owned a well for a long time. Knowing the basics can equip you to make sound decisions about your water well system. Produced by wellowner.org.
Water Well Maintenance – Regular water well system maintenance is important. Knowing and practicing the basics of regular well maintenance can reduce risks to your water supply and prevent costly and inconvenient breakdowns. Produced by wellowner.org.
Groundwater Quality and Quantity – The quality of your water is important. Knowing the basics about water testing and treatment can help you diagnose and address water quality issues-whether they be matters of taste, odor, or appearance, or health risks. Produced by wellowner.org.
Well Owner’s Guide – The National Ground Water Association Well Owners Guide is a comprehensive manual where you’ll find valuable information from proper well construction, routine well maintenance and water testing. Email subscription required for download link.
Buying a Home With a Well – A Water Systems Council fact sheet produced to help prospective or current homeowners make informed decisions when buying a home with a well.
Find Licensed Well Contractors – Use this directory to find licensed well contractors in Ontario.
Free Private Well Training – This program is a collaboration between the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and the Illinois State Water Survey to boost knowledge of well owners and the water professionals that serve well owners day to day.
Learn about Private Water Wells – Information from the US Environmental Protection Agency about types of wells, well components, and selecting new well locations and construction.
Learn About Groundwater – Groundwater is one of our most valuable resources—even though you probably never see it or even realize it is there. There is water somewhere beneath your feet no matter where on Earth you live. This collection is part of a series produced by the United States Geological Survey called Water Science School.
Groundwater and the Rural Homeowner – A report produced by the United States Geological Survey for prospective or current rural homeowners to gain a basic yet comprehensive overview of ground water and problems one may expect to encounter and some solutions.
Overview of Water-related Diseases and Contaminants in Private Wells – A webpage produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listing top causes of outbreaks in individual private wells. Links to more information on specific germs or chemicals can be found on this page.
What to do After the Flood – A fact sheet of emergency procedures for when flood conditions threaten your well produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Disinfection
Well Disinfection Tool – The well disinfection tool provides an easy way to calculate the amount of chlorine product that is needed to disinfect a well. The tool also provides the procedures and precautions to take when disinfecting the well. Produced by Public Health Ontario.
Chlorine Dilution Calculator– This easy-to-use calculator tells you how much bleach product to dilute with water to get your desired concentration (ppm) of chlorine solution. Produced by Public Health Ontario.
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Homeowner Information and Resources
Well Aware and Well Wise Program Resources for Homeowners
Wells Help Desk and Well Records in Ontario
Well Construction and Licensing
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Well Components
These fact sheets describe different well components for learning purposes.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Common Well Components
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