Private Water Well Owners - Dealing With Water Shortages

Agdex#:	716/77
Publication Date:	07/99
Order#:	99-025
Last Reviewed:	07/99
History:	Original Factsheet
Written by:	J. P. Myslik - Engineer, Water Management/OMAFRA

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. I am experiencing a water shortage from my well. Why?
3. I am worried about my water well supply. What can I do to find out if I am okay?
4. If I increase my pump size, will my supply of water increase?
5. Will deepening my existing well provide more water?
6. If I need a new well to provide more water, what type of well should I construct?
7. Will I get more water if I lower the pump or the pump intake in my well?
8. How can I check if my well is being affected by the dry weather?
9. How do I measure the static water level in my well?
10. The top of my well is not visible. What should I do?
11. My well has gone dry. Can I add surface water or rainwater to my well to supplement my supply?
12. I do not want to put water down my well but I need a temporary supply. What should I do?
13. What is a cistern. Is it good to have?
14. I have other wells on my property that I have not used. Can I use them?
15. Useful References

Introduction

This Factsheet was written to help the private well owner understand and deal with water supply problems. If a water shortage problem is experienced, private well owners should assess all available information before determining the best course of action.

Q1- I am experiencing a water shortage from my well. Why?

There could be many reasons.

• Have you had similar problems before during similar dry periods? The problem may be repeating itself. If not, it may indicate a problem with the pump, the pressure system, etc. Check that these items are functioning properly.
• Has there been a change in volume of water used? If your well has exhibited decreased yield while maintaining the static water level (see question 8), it could indicate partial plugging of your well at the bottom. This is particularly true of drilled wells or drilled wells with screens. A licensed well contractor familiar with the different causes of well plugging and rehabilitation methods can provide you with an assessment and possible options.
• Have any new water consumers recently been established in close vicinity to your well? You can check with the nearest Ministry of the Environment office to gather information about water takings.
• If you have eliminated all the previous possibilities, you may simply be experiencing the effects of local or regional dry conditions.

Q2 - I am worried about my water well supply. What can I do to find out if I am okay?

The simplest test that you can do is to check the static water level of your well (see question 8). Do this periodically, and it will indicate if your water supply is decreasing. For a more thorough test, have your well inspected by a qualified well contractor.

Q3 - If I increase my pump size, will my supply of water increase?

If a replacement pump is installed in a well, the pump must not exceed the maximum safe-pumping capacity of the well, and the specific height of lift that the pump must raise water in the well.

A larger pump will only supply you with more water if the well is capable of supplying additional water. Before increasing the size of the pump, have a qualified water well contractor conduct a pump test and provide advice as to what pump is recommended to match your specific needs. If too large a pump is installed, it is possible to do irreparable damage to the pump and/or well.

Before increasing the size of the pump, ask yourself why it is needed.

• Is it necessary?
• Have you increased water use?
• Can you improve your water conservation?

Have you checked for any leaks in the system?

Q4 - Will deepening my existing well provide more water? 

Yes, in some cases.

• In some circumstances deepening an existing well can provide more water. The deepening may encounter additional ground water and also provide additional available drawdown.
• However, be careful where an area is known to have naturally occurring poor quality, e.g., iron, sulphur, at depths below high quality fresh water. In this case, by deepening the well and penetrating a formation with poor quality water, the poor quality water travels up into the well, mixing with the higher quality original water. This can make the well unusable and cause wider contamination of a previously high quality aquifer, which could have long-term impacts on other wells.
• Before making the decision to deepen your well, review water well records and/or hydrogeological information for your immediate area. Water well records are available from the Ministry of the Environment (1-888-396-WELL). Please check with the ministry for the current search fee.

Q5 - If I need a new well to provide more water, what type of well should I construct?

Make a decision based on the best available information. Review the water well records and other hydrogeological information available for your area. Essential information such as depth to water, pumping test data, and static water levels can be found by reviewing water well records.

Q6 - Will I get more water if I lower the pump or the pump intake in my well?

Possibly. But you need to know both the depth of the well and the exact depth of the pump or pump intake in order to improve the performance of your well.

Keep a record of this important information near your pressure system for future use. From this information, you can determine if the pump or pump intake can be lowered deeper into the well. Lowering provides more available drawdown during pumping, making more available water.

Note: At no time should the pump or pump intake be lowered to the very bottom of the well.

Consult a licensed well contractor to determine the maximum recommended depth and pump rate for your pump specification.

Q7 - How can I check if my well is being affected by the dry weather? I am concerned that someone is using too much water. What can I do? 

By keeping regular water level measurements and records, you can monitor the performance of your well to help assess causes of potential problems in the future.

Measured Depth to water
(feet/in.): Date:
(feet/in.): Date:

See next question for instructions on how to measure the static water level.

Q8 - How do I measure the static water level in my well?

The static water level is best determined when the following conditions are met:

• The well cannot be pumped for several hours prior to measuring the static water level. You will get a false reading if the well is pumped just before the static water level is measured.
• Measure the water level directly with a survey tape or electrical measuring tape designed to measure water levels.
• A home made electrical measuring tape can be made as follows:
  • take plain electrical wire (2-wire) with both ends exposed and lower it into the well with an ohmmeter connected to the upper end of the wire. When the lower end of the exposed wire penetrates water, the ohmmeter at the upper end moves, because a closed circuit has been created.
  • mark the point on the wire that is even with the casing with a small piece of tape.
  • remove the wire and measure from the bottom to the tape. This tells you the depth the water level is below the top of the casing.
  • repeat the process.
• If you obtain the same measurements, the water level is 'static' (not moving). If the water level is moving up or down, continue to measure until you have at least two consecutive identical water levels.
• This electrical device is to be used only for measuring water levels in a well and must not be connected or plugged into any other electrical device or outlet. If you cannot or are unable to measure the water level in your well, consult with a licensed well contractor for assistance.

Q9 - The top of my well is not visible. What should I do?

To ensure easy access, the well must always be visible (not buried). If you do not already know where it is buried, determine the exact location of the well. Have the casing raised to a minimum height of 40 cm above the ground surface.

Q10 - My well has gone dry. Can I add surface water or rainwater to my well to supplement my supply?

No! Adding surface water or any other poor quality water into a well can contaminate your well.

If you should decide to add water to a well, make sure that:

• it is potable (safe to drink) water
• the well is in good structural condition so it is not damaged with the addition of the water.

Generally, this is not a recommended practice.

If you have previously added any water of unknown quality, or suspect the quality of the water in your well, have the water tested to ensure that the water is safe to drink.

Q11 - I do not want to put water down my well but I need a temporary supply. What should I do? 

An above ground storage tank can provide short-term relief. The source of water should be potable, and should stay that way in storage. Test the water regularly. You may need frost protection for the storage tank and temporary water lines during cold periods.

Q12 - What is a cistern? Is it good to have?

A cistern is an underground concrete tank. It was sometimes used in the past to store supplemental water in those areas of the province experiencing difficulty finding adequate water from a well. Water was collected from rain on building roofs or hauled in and placed in the cistern. Rainwater was often collected for the soft water characteristics. There are still many of these units in the rural areas. They are not recommended for storing water that will be consumed. Many of these units are old, cracked, and not maintained.

Q13 - I have other wells on my property that I have not used. Can I use them?

These wells may be useable, but only after testing to find out if they are safe and have a potable supply of water. Previously constructed wells may indicate past problems (water shortage or poor water quality) on your property.

Whether you use the well(s) or not, it is your responsibility to maintain all wells as if they are in use or properly plug them. If they are to be kept, secure caps and lids must be maintained on top of the well(s). If you are unsure of the condition of the well cap or lid, have them inspected by qualified personnel and replace as required. This is to help preserve ground water quantity and quality.

Regulation 903 of the Ontario Water Resources Act outlines all requirements regarding well construction, maintenance, and abandonment.

Useful References

The following publications are available from the nearest Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs office.

• Best Management Practices: Water Management
  
• Best Management Practices: Water Wells
  
• Farm Water Supply and Distribution Systems; Pub. 476
  
• Farm Water Supply Water Treatment Systems; Pub. 85

Best Management Practices publications can also be ordered from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
Attn: Manager BMP
40 Eglinton Ave. E, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ont M4P 3B1
Tel. (416) 485-3333
Fax (416) 485-9027
E-Mail: info@ofa.on.ca
Website: www.ofa.on.ca

The following publications are available from the Ministry of the Environment's Public Information Centre: Telephone 1-800-565-4923

• Protection of Water Quality in Bored and Dug Wells;601b
  
• Protection of Water Quality in Drilled Wells;602b
  
• Recommended Methods for Plugging Abandoned Water Wells; 603b
  
• Water Wells and Ground Water Supplies in Ontario; 589c
  
• Water Wells in Ontario: Important Facts About Water Well Construction; 587b
  
• Water Wells in Ontario: Installation of Well Pumps;594b