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
Well Wise is a program administered by the Ontario Ground Water Association to provide water testing for consumers and well contractors.
Disponible en français.
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Wells Help Desk & Records in Ontario
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) operates a public Wells Help Desk to help ensure that information is available to the public. The Wells Helps Desk also receives and forwards well complaints to the appropriate ministry office, answers general questions on wells, assists well owners to locate their well record and assists the well industry sector in obtaining licenses, well record forms and well tags (MECP, 2021).
MECP Wells Help Desk
Mailing Address:
Wells Help Desk
Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
125 Resources Road
Toronto ON M9P 3V6
Phone: Toll-free: 1-888-396-WELL (9355)
Fax: 1-416-235-5960
Email: wellshelpdesk@ontario.ca
Well Records & Requests
How to complete, submit or get a copy of a well record.
Well Records Open Data Catalog
Information and rules for residential well owners, including the proper location, construction, maintenance and abandonment of a well can be found at Wells on your property.
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Homeowner Information & Resources
Our Helpline commonly receives questions pertaining to treatment, health and testing from private homeowners and members of the public. This collection provides information related to those queries.
Home Water Testing
Drinking Water Quality – Indicator Bacteria (Total Coliforms and E. Coli)
Drinking Water Testing – Private Citizen
How Do I Get My Drinking Water Tested?
Quick Guide to Drinking Water Sample Collection
Testing Water for Gardening and Lawn Irrigation
Understanding Your Well Water Test Results
Water Testing – Who to Contact
Well Water Testing (Private Drinking Water)
Home Water Treatment & Plumbing
A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment and Sanitation for Backcountry & Travel Use
A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment Technologies for Household Use
Choosing Home Water Filters & Other Water Treatment Systems
Contaminant Reduction Claims Guide
Disinfection with Chlorine and Chloramine
Do I Need to Use Certified Products or Materials for my Drinking Water?
Drinking Water Safety – Cisterns
Drinking Water Treatability Database
Home Water Treatment System Selection
How to Drain your Water Heater
How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System and Plumbing Products
How to Install a Water Softener
Ultimate Guide to Well Water Treatment
Private Wells
Best Management Practices: Water Wells
Drinking Water from Household Wells
Find Licensed Well Contractors
Groundwater and the Rural Homeowner
Learn About Private Water Wells
Overview of Water-related Diseases and Contaminants in Private Wells
Private Well Water and Fluoride
Private Well Water Manual – A Quick Users Guide
Submit or get a copy of a well record
Water Talk – Be Well Aware, Information for Private Well Owners
Well Issues – Frequently Asked Technical Questions
Well Owner Information Package – Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
Wells Help Desk – Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks
Source Water Protection
Assessing the Potential for Groundwater Contamination on Your Farm
Groundwater – An Important Rural Resource
Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems
Potential Well Water Contaminants and Their Impacts
Proper Use and Disposal of Pesticides and Fertilizers
Protecting Groundwater by Managing Animal Waste
Protecting Groundwater Through Proper Petroleum Storage Practices on the Farm
Water Quality & Health
Don’t Drink Water from Roadside Springs
Drinking Water: What About Lead?
Findings and Recommendations of the Fluoride Expert Panel
How Do I Know if There is Lead in my Water?
It’s Your Health – Arsenic in Drinking Water
It’s Your Health – Drinking Water Chlorination
It’s Your Health – Fluoride and Oral Health
It’s Your Health – Legionnaire’s Disease and Pontiac Fever
Rural Water Quality Information Tool
Water on Tap – What You Need to Know
Water-related Diseases and Contaminants in Public Water Systems
Water Talk – Barium in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Chloramines in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Copper in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Drinking Water Quality in Canada
Water Talk – Enteric Protozoa (Giardia and Cryptosporidium) in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Enteric Viruses in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Lead in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Manganese in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Perfluoroalkylated Substances in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Strontium in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Uranium in Drinking Water
Water Related Emergencies
Disinfecting Wells After a Disaster
Food and Water Needs: Preparing for a Disaster or Emergency
Public Users of Public Water Supplies
Water-related Emergencies and Outbreaks: Personal Preparation and Storage of Safe Water
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Related Emergencies & Outbreaks – Preparing a Home Water Supply
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Valves
The following links provide information regarding different types of valves found commonly in water applications.
WSO Water Distribution Grades 1 & 2: Valves, Ch. 9
Air Valves
Flow regime identification for air valves failure evaluation in water pipelines using pressure data
Control Valves
New and Exciting Capabilities of Modern Control Valves
Backflow Prevention Devices
Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention
Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention Poster
WSO Water Distribution Grades 1 & 2: Backflow Prevention Devices, Ch. 19
Homeowner Info
Getting to Know Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve
Opening and Closing Valves
How to Collapse a Pipe by Closing a Valve
Repairing Distribution Line Breaks
Wells
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Lead
‘Children up to six years old are more sensitive to the effects of lead because they are still developing and their small bodies can absorb it more easily than adults. Even small amounts of lead can be harmful to young children, infants and pregnant women (Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 2020).’
The following links provide information regarding lead in drinking water and how to minimize exposure through line replacement, flushing, treatment and sampling programs.
Abstracts
Effectiveness of Prevailing Flush Guidelines to Prevent Exposure to Lead in Tap Water
Community Communication
Communicating about Lead Service Lines
Contaminants in the Water Supply: Lead
Daily cleaning tips to clean your home’s drinking water pipes
Drinking water: What about lead?
How to clean your faucet aerator
How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products
How to know if you have a lead water pipe
How to replace your lead pipes
How to test your water for lead
Lead and Drinking Water: Talking with Your Community
Lead in Drinking Water: Fact Sheet
Together, Let’s Get the Lead Out!
Lead Service Line Replacement
Approaches to Lead Service Line Replacement
Collaborating to Replace Lead Service Lines Webinar: Filter Effectiveness
Communicating about Lead Service Lines
Coordinating and Implementing Replacement of Lead Service Lines
Digging Deep – Searching Decades of National Records to Find Lead Service Lines and Goosenecks
Encouraging Customer-Initiated LSL Replacement Webinar: Two Case Studies
Engaging Communities in Planning and Communicating about LSL Replacement Webinar
Equity Considerations in LSL Replacement Programs Webinar
High‐Velocity Household and Service Line Flushing Following LSL Replacement
How to check your water service line material
How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products
Identifying Service Line Material
Information for Property Owners about Lead Water Service Line Replacement
Intensive flushing to clean your home’s drinking water pipes following a LSL replacement
Introduction to Lead and Lead Service Line Replacement
Lead in Water and Full Lead Service Line Replacement
Lead Service Line Identification and Replacement: Introduction to the Series
Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative
Lead Service Line Replacement: Funding
Lead Service Line Replacement: Legal Factors
Lead Service Line Replacement: Outreach Materials
Lead Service Line Replacement: Plan Development
Lead Service Line Replacement Practices
Lead Service Line Replacement: Vital Tips from Leading Utility Managers
Lead Service Lines Frequently Asked Questions
Managing Lead in Drinking Water
Managing Lead in Pipe Scales – Understanding How Water Quality Affects Lead Release
Mapping Lead Service Lines: Charting a Path to Engage a Community Webinar
Mapping Lead Service Line Probability in Small Water Systems
Preparing a Lead Service Line Inventory
Q&A from Lead Service Line Replacement: Vital Tips from Leading Utility Managers
RCAP, Small Water Systems and Lead Service Line Inventories Webinar
Replacing lead service lines at Denver Water
Replacing Lead Service Lines in Early Learning Environments Webinar
Strategies to Obtain Customer Acceptance of Complete Lead Service Line Replacement
Understanding Lead Service Line Replacement Techniques
Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water
Managing & Minimizing Exposure
3Ts for Child Care Facilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
3Ts for Public Water Utilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Toolkit
3Ts for Tribal Schools: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
Aggregation of Lead Phosphate Particles: Implication for Lead Removal in Tap Water
Chloride to Sulfate Mass Ratio and Galvanic Connection Changes – Impact on Lead Leaching
Daily cleaning tips to clean your home’s drinking water pipes
Flint, MI Drinking Water Crisis
Flint Water Crisis: Can It Happen in Canada?
Guidance on Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
Guide for Small Community Water Suppliers and Local Health Officials on Lead in Drinking Water
How to clean your faucet aerator
Identify and Remove Sources of Lead
Identifying Service Line Material
Intensive flushing to clean your home’s drinking water pipes
Lead and Copper Corrosion: An Overview of WRF Research
Lead and Copper Corrosion Control in New Construction
Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring and Reporting Guidance for Public Water Systems
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions White Paper
Lead in Drinking Water: Homes and Schools
Lead (IV) Oxide Formation and Stability in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
Lead Safe Toolkit for Home-Based Child Care Webinar Series – Lead in Drinking Water
Minimize Your Risk of Lead Exposure
Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Evaluation Technical Recommendations
Poisoned Pipelines: What Can Be Learned from the Catastrophe in Flint, Michigan?
Proposed Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule
Public Health and Industry: Partners In Reducing Lead Exposure
Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water
When to Make a Corrosion Control Treatment Change
Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
Contaminants in the Water Supply: Lead
Drinking water: What about lead?
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for Lead
Is there Lead in my Drinking Water? Brochure
Lead in Drinking Water Fact Sheet
Lead in Drinking Water ‐ Frequently Asked Questions
Lead in Drinking Water – NSF Certified Filters
Sources of Lead in Drinking Water
Water Talk – Lead in drinking water
Standards
AWWA C810-17 REPLACEMENT AND FLUSHING OF LEAD SERVICE LINES
INTERNAL CORROSION CONTROL AND LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT DVD
M58 INTERNAL CORROSION CONTROL IN WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, SECOND EDITION
Testing
Assessing Portable Analyzers for Lead Testing in School Drinking Water
Evaluation of Lead Line Sampling Strategies
Lead Sampling Protocols for School Drinking Water
Testing for Lead In School Drinking Water: A Summary of Sampling Protocols
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Private Wells
This post provides information to homeowners related to operating and maintaining their private water supply wells.
Best Management Practices: Water Wells
Disinfecting Wells After a Disaster
Drinking Water from Household Wells
Drinking Water Testing – Private Citizen
Find Licensed Well Contractors
Groundwater and the Rural Homeowner
Learn About Private Water Wells
Overview of Water-related Diseases and Contaminants in Private Wells
Potential Well Water Contaminants and Their Impacts
Private Well Water and Fluoride
Private Well Water Manual – A Quick Users Guide
Water Talk – Be Well Aware, Information for Private Well Owners
Water Testing – Who to Contact
Well Issues – Frequently Asked Technical Questions
Well Water Testing (Private Drinking Water)
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Iron
This post provides information on iron in drinking water and reducing iron through treatment options and optimization.
Articles
Keeping Iron Bacteria Out of Your Well
Fact Sheets
Home Drinking Water Treatment Devices
How to Operate and Maintain Manganese Greensand Treatment Units
Shock chlorination and control of iron bacteria
Water-related Diseases: Anaemia
Guides
Guidance on Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Iron
Small Public Water System Technology Guide, Volume I – Iron and Manganese Control
Pilot Testing Reports & Summaries
Evaluation of Greensand Filtration Operation for the Reduction of Manganese
Exploring Iron Reduction Options for a Groundwater Source
Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Presentations
A Pilot Plant Study to Reduce Iron and Manganese
Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
Reduction of Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide from a Well System
Videos
EPA Small Systems Webinar: Treatment and Control for Manganese and Iron
Remove Iron , Sulfur, Manganese by Oxidation System
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Well Components
These fact sheets describe different well components for learning purposes.
Common Well Components
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WCWC Helpline FAQs
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre offers a service for Ontario’s owners, operators and operating authorities of drinking water systems and members from the public. Through our helpline, we provide information, education and advice to address questions related to drinking water including treatment processes, equipment, operational requirements and environmental factors.
Below are answers and resources for frequently asked questions we receive. If you can’t find the answer to your question, contact us toll free at 1-855-306-1155 or email us at helpline@wcwc.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use certified products or materials in my drinking water system?
How do I get my drinking water tested?
How do I know if there is lead in my water?
How do I take care of my cistern?
What are the requirements for hauling potable water?
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