Water Well Publications

Table of Contents

1. Water Shortages
   1. Managing Your Water Well in Times of Water Shortage
   2. Private Water Well Owners – Dealing with Water Shortages
2. Water Quality at Home
   1. Health Facts – Boil Water Advisory
   2. List of Public Health Units in Ontario
   3. Water Wells - Best Management Practices Book
   4. Putting Your Well Water to the Test
   5. Get Acquainted with Your Well
   6. Pathogens and Your Well Water
   7. Disinfection Instruction Sheet
   8. Keeping Your Well Water Safe to Drink
   9. Choosing a Water Treatment System
3. Water Wells — Drinking Water Protection
   1. The Protection of Water Quality in Drilled Wells
   2. The Protection of Water Quality in Bored and Dug Wells
   3. Pesticide Contamination of Farm Water Supplies: Recommendations on Avoidance, Cleanup and Responsibilities
   4. Water Wells - Best Management Practices Book
4. Water Wells — Construction
   1. Important Facts About Water Well Construction
   2. Water Wells and Groundwater: Recommended Methods for Plugging Abandoned Water Wells
   3. Water Wells - Best Management Practices Book
5. Groundwater - An Important Rural Resource
   1. Understanding Groundwater
   2. Managing the Quantity of Groudwater Supplies
   3. Protecting the Quality of Groundwater Supplies
   4. Private Rural Water Supplies

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Water Well Publications

Pesticide Contamination of Farm Water Supplies: Recommendations on Avoidance, Cleanup and Responsibilities (Factsheet):

Summarizes significance of a safe water supply, how groundwater can become contaminated, discusses water supply decontamination approaches, and recommends well construction per OWRA requirements (OMAFRA Publication 00-099). Can be found online at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/00-099.htm

Private Water Well Owners – Dealing with Water Shortages (Factsheet):

Stresses proper maintenance of all wells, and states that well construction, maintenance and plugging must meet OWRA requirements (OMAFRA Publication 99-025). Can be found online at http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/English/engineer/facts/99-025.htm

Water Wells - Best Management Practices Book

Discusses the water cycle, contamination pathways and effect on human and livestock health, and provides information on best management practices for the construction, maintenance and abandonment of drilled, dug/bored and sand point wells.

For a small price you can order a personal copy:
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/English/products/best.html

Understanding Groundwater

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/English/environment/06-111.htm

Managing the Quantity of Groundwater Supplies

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/English/environment/06-113.htm

Protecting the Quality of Groundwater Supplies

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/English/environment/06-115.htm

Private Rural Water Supplies

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/English/environment/06-117.htm

Ministry of the Environment Water Well Publications

The Protection of Water Quality in Drilled Wells (Green Facts):

Presents an overview of Regulation 903, under the Ontario Water Resources Act (OWRA), that concerns well contractor and technician licencing, and prescribes minimum standards for the construction, maintenance, pollution prevention and abandonment of drilled wells. This document also provides a summary of factors that can affect water quality, discusses factors leading to the deterioration of well water quality, and suggests preventative maintenance measures (MOE Publication 3961).

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/cons/3961e.pdf

The Protection of Water Quality in Bored and Dug Wells (Green Facts):

Presents an overview of Regulation 903 that concerns the licencing of well contractors and technicians, and prescribes minimum standards for the construction, maintenance, pollution prevention and abandonment of bored and dug wells. This document also provides a summary of factors that can affect water quality, discusses factors leading to the deterioration of well water quality, and suggests preventative maintenance measures (MOE Publication 3962).

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/cons/3962e01.pdf

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Important Facts About Water Well Construction (Green Facts):

Summarizes requirements under Regulation 903 for licencing of well contractors, and requirements regarding well construction, contamination, maintenance and abandonment (MOE Publication 3788).

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/cons/3788e01.pdf

Water Wells and Groundwater: Recommended Methods for Plugging Abandoned Water Wells (Green Tips):

Summarizes well abandonment requirements under Regulation 903, and methods for plugging wells constructed in different geological settings (MOE Publication 3702).

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/cons/3788e01.pdf

Managing Your Water Well in Times of Water Shortage (Green Tips):

Discusses groundwater-based supplies, causes of water shortage, provides information about responses and remedial actions during times of water shortage, and suggests safety issues that should be considered when working in or around wells (MOE Publication 3784).

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/cons/3784e.pdf 

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Water Well Publications

Health Facts – Boil Water Advisory

Explains the reasons for a boil water advisory, water use options and limitations, disinfection, and followup.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/English/public/pub/watersafe/watersafe_boiled.html

List of Public Health Units in Ontario

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/English/public/contact/phu/phuloc_mn.html

Putting Your Well Water to the Test

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/watersafe/watersafe_welltest.html

Get Acquainted with Your Well

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/watersafe/watersafe_wellaquant.html

Pathogens and Your Well Water

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/watersafe/watersafe_pathogens.html

Disinfection Instruction Sheet

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/watersafe/watersafe_disinfection.html

Keeping Your Well Water Safe to Drink

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/watersafe/watersafe_wellknow.html

Choosing a Water Treatment System

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/watersafe/watersafe_wellwater.html

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