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www.nbeia.nb.ca

Conservation

Testing New Wells

Drilling

Quality

Your Environmental Trust Fund at Work

MaintenancePage 7...

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NEW BRUNSWICK ENVIRONMENTINDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

NBEIA AIENB

Do you know where your last glass ofwater came from? Water thatcontains low concentrations of

dissolved salts and veryfew impurities is referred

to as “fresh” water,different from the

saltwater we findin oceans.F r e s h w a t e rrepresents lessthan three percent of the water on Earth.

Most people are familiar withfresh surface waters found instreams and lakes, but many

are less familiar with underground freshwater. Water found under the groundsurface, is and will continue to be, an important source of drinking waterthroughout the world. In New Brunswick, over 60 per cent of the population

receives its drinking water from a groundwater source.

We are all concerned with the quality of our drinkingwater. The sediment and/or rock overlying aquifers oftenprovide protection against surface contamination. Thisprotection, combined with the filtration capabilities ofaquifers, makes groundwater supplies very appealing.

Every day, people in New Brunswick rely on groundwaterfor their drinking water through either a municipal orindividual well water supply. Currently, there are about

100,000 private water wells in the province and approximately 2,500 newwells are drilled each year. A number of people in New Brunswick also relyon shallow groundwater sources accessed through well points, dug wells andsprings for their water supplies.


There are about100,000private water

wells in New Brunswick.

2


What is the Water Cycle?

W ater, life sustaining and found almosteverywhere, is recycled continuouslybetween the clouds, land and oceans.

Earth’s water circulatory system, known as thehydrologic cycle, is a process that moves waterfrom one location to another usingenergy from the sun. This happensall over the world.

The recycling of water is aprocess that started backwhen the Earth wasformed. Water, in theform of rain or snow,falls to the groundand begins to followmany different path-ways. It can evaporateimmediately into theatmosphere, run offinto streams and lakes orseep into the ground.Some of it finds its way tothe ocean. During its journey itevaporates into the atmosphere,forms clouds and eventually falls back

down to begin a different journey through the cycle.

The seepage of water into the ground is animportant part of the hydrologic cycle. Out of sightand underground, the water moves through small

spaces that exist in sediments and rocks.Water under the ground often moves

less than a metre in a year, thesubsurface trip to the ocean

can take a long time.

At a certain depthbelow the groundsurface, all the spacesin the sediment androck become filledwith water. Aquifers,large undergroundreservoirs of water,

are sometimes formed.Aquifers, because they

can store and transferwater, are important

sources of freshwater in manyregions of the world.

Lake

Ocean

Streamflow

RAIN

EVAPORATI O

N

Water moving underground

The New Brunswick Environmental IndustryAssociation is a non-profit trade association

dedicated to promoting the growth ofenvironmental business in New Brunswick.

For more information, please contact: New Brunswick EnvironmentIndustry AssociationPO Box 637, Station A,Fredericton, NB E3B 5B3Tel. (506) 455-0212Fax (506) 452-0213E-mail: [email protected]: www.nbeia.nb.ca

Text: Barbara Petrunic and Matthew Alexander (DoctoralCandidates at the University of New Brunswick)

Advisors: Dr. Kerry MacQuarrie (University of NewBrunswick Groundwater Studies Group) and staff fromthe New Brunswick Department of Environment andLocal Government

Proofing: NBEIA technical committee members Jean-Louis Daigle, Gary Spencer, and Heather Valsangkar.

Editors: Tim Ryan, Gil Violette

Graphic design/illustration: Imprint Communications


Drinking Water Supplies from Groundwater


3


Methods used to find groundwaterhave changed over the years. In the

past ”water witchers” walked backand forth across an area of land using

a Y-shaped stick, called a dowsing rod, thatsupposedly twitched downward when water waspresent below. Today this activity persists locally,but has largely been replaced by more moderntechniques.

T he New Brunswick Water Well Regulation,under the Clean Water Act, states thatlicensed well contractors must construct all

water wells. Well contractors are required to followminimum standards, well water disinfectionpractices and minimum distances from potentialcontaminant sources outlined by the regulations.

The contractor must submit a water well driller'sreport (well log) to the homeowner and the NewBrunswick Department of Environment and LocalGovernment office. The well location, depth, lengthof the well casing installed, sediment and rockencountered and estimated water quantity aresome of the items listed in the report. The numberon the well identification tag, located on the above-ground portion of the well casing, should match thenumber on the well driller’s report.

In choosing a well contractor, ask to see awell driller’s licence, the amount ofexperience they have in your local areaor neighbourhood, and the type ofwork they have done. Neighbourswith wells are often a good source ofinformation. They may recommend areputable well contractor or provideinformation about any problems ordifficulties they may have had.Remember, however, the well drillercannot guarantee the quantity or qualityof water before drilling a well.

• Experience & knowledge• Drilling• Well casing• In some cases, a well

screen• Drive shoe• Well seal & air vent pipe• Vermin proof well cap• Well voucher;

water safety testReferences:Department of Environment and Local Government New Brunswick. Undated.Before You Drill Your Water Well, Points to Remember. Environment NewBrunswick Water Resources Branch. 11p.

Ontario Ministry of the Environment. 1989. Ground Water Supplies inOntario. 98p.

Price, M. 1985. Introducing Groundwater. George Allen and Unwin,Boston. 195p.

Todd, D.K. 1980. Groundwater Hydrology, 2nd edition. John Wiley andSons, Toronto. 535p.

Web Site:www.gnb.ca/elg-egl/0373/0001/0009-e.html

What Are You Paying For?

Having acont inuous,dependable and safe

water supply is important to all of us. Planning for aproperly located well site can save many problems inthe future. Before a well is drilled, several simplequestions should be asked such as:

• How much water is needed now?

• How much water will be needed in the future?

• Are there sources of potential contaminants nearthe well site?

The New Brunswick Department of Environment andLocal Government establishes regulations regardinggroundwater exploitation under the Clean Water Act.The goal of the Act is to ensure the management andprotection of drinking water sources.

Regulations under the Act set minimum distancesfrom potential contamination sources, above andbelow ground. As a general rule, a well should belocated uphill and as far away as possible, frompotential pollutant sources such as septic tanks, homeheating oil tanks, roads, sewer pipes, surface watersources and other off-site contaminant sources.Following these regulations will help to reduce the riskof poor water quality or contaminants entering a well.

Choosing a Proper Well Site

Exploring for Groundwater

Hiring a Qualified Well Contractor

Wells can be drilled in a variety of waysdepending on the material andcharacteristics of the aquifer. Rotary

drilling is the most common method used to drilldrinking water wells, although some well contractorsare still equipped with cable tool drilling machinery.

As drilling proceeds, well casing is inserted intothe hole that will function as your well. The wellcasing is essentially a hollow pipe, usually madefrom metal. Casing is required to prevent surfacewater from entering the well and protect the holefrom collapsing. Well contractors must extend thecasing above the ground surface. For additionalprotection, the well contractor can add groutbetween the casing and the walls of the hole. Thewell should also be fitted with a proper cap. Theseprocedures ensure that water and other materialsfrom the surface don’t find their way down into theaquifer.

After the well has been installed, a well contractorcan use several methods to remove sediment androck from the well that may cause the water to becloudy or murky. The final step of well constructionis chlorination. Adding chlorine will destroy harmfulbacteria that may have entered the well duringconstruction. Wells should be chlorinated annuallyfor proper maintenance, which is best done in thespring or fall. You can learn more about chlorinatingyour well by viewing the website:http://www.gnb.ca/0009/0006-e.pdf

A different type of pumping system needs to be setup for each household depending on how muchwater is being consumed. To avoid any problems youshould consult an experienced pump installer or wellcontractor before setting up your pumping system.

Apumping systemis needed totransport water

from your well to yourtap.

This system is madeup of a pump, serviceline, pressure tank andpipes. The pump drawswater from the well andsends it to the pressuretank where the water isstored until needed.

There are many different pumps that can be used.Some of the more common ones include the jetpump, piston pump and submersible pump. The jetpump uses downward pressure to force water upinto the pipes and then to the pressure tank. Thepiston pump uses an upward and downward motionto draw water up into the pipes. The submersiblepump uses a circular motion to draw water up fromthe well. An advantage of the submersible pump isthat it is placed inside the well with a pitless adaptor.

Through the pitless adaptor the submersible pumpinside the well is connected to the service line runningfrom the well to the home. The pitless adaptor andservice line are located below the frost line to preventwater in the line from freezing during winter.

The pressure tank is another important part ofyour pumping system. It serves two purposes. Thefirst is to store water that is pumped from the welland the second is to pressurize the pumping system.A pressure tank will prevent the pump from startingevery time a tap is turned on, decreasing wear andtear on the pump. As water is drained from thepressure tank the pressure inside the tank begins todrop. When the pressure drops enough the pumpwill turn on and refill the pressure tank.

Your pumping system may require a setup specificto your household needs. For example, if waterdemand is high at certain times of the day, the waterlevel in the well could drop significantly. If thishappens, the pump could draw air and damage thesystem. To avoid these problems you should consulta trained pump installer or well contractor beforesetting up your pumping system.

4

Your Environmental Trust Fund at WorkNEW BRUNSWICK ENVIRONMENTINDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Tapping into Your Water SupplyHOUSE BASEMENT

Pressure tank

Valve

Well cover

Pitlessadapter

Wellcasing

PipingPressure switch

Pressure gauge

Electrical line to pump

Electrical control switch

SubmersiblepumpPumpintake

A submersible pump system.

References:Department of Environment and Local Government. Undated. Facts onWater.Environment New Brunswick. Undated. Before You Drill Your Water

Well, Points to Remember. Environment New Brunswick WaterResources Branch. 11p.

New Brunswick Regulation 93-203 under the Clean Water Act (O.C. 93-979) filed December 21, 1993.

Web Site:www.gnb.ca/elg-egl/0373/0001/0009-e.html

From the Well to Your Tap

Wells should bechlorinated annually for

proper maintenance.

5


Water Testing for New or Modified Wells

Since thousands of New Brunswick familiesdepend on groundwater to supply them withfresh drinking water, the New Brunswick

Department of Environment and Local Governmenthas taken steps to prevent drinking water problemsand help protect groundwaterresources. The Potable WaterRegulation under the CleanWater Act legally requiresowners of new, deepened orrepaired wells to test thequality of their water.

The well contractor isrequired to give the well ownera signed and dated well water-testing voucher. The vouchercovers the cost of basic waterquality analysis. As stated inthe Regulation, the well watermust be tested within a periodof 12 months after the voucheris issued. It is recommendedthat the test is completed priorto consuming the water.

Testing involves a check forpresence of bothmicroorganisms and inorganicsubstances in the water. Totalcoliforms and fecal coliformsare often found in watercontaining decaying naturalorganic matter and sewage.Microorganism testing, examineswater for the presence of thosesubstances. Inorganic testingexamines a number of chemicalcomponents related to thegeological materials that watercomes into contact with the watersupply. Test results are compared with theGuidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality andNew Brunswick Health Advisory Levels.

To check your water quality, you are required to pickup a sampling kit from a local office of the provincialdepartments of Health and Wellness or Environmentand Local Government. The kit includes samplebottles and instructions on how to properly collect a

well water sample. Aftercollection, the sample shouldbe submitted to the provincialgovernment laboratory fortesting and analysis. If yourtest results indicate thepresence of bacteria you willbe contacted by theDepartment of Health andWellness. Staff of that agencycan provide assistance onappropriate corrective action.

Water test results are sentto the homeowner, theDepartment of Health andWellness and a copy is kept onfile at the Department ofEnvironment and LocalGovernment. Results of yourwater analysis are keptconfidential. The Departmentof Health and Wellness willnotify the homeowner of anyidentified health relatedproblems with the tested wellwater. Instructions forcorrective action may beincluded with the test results ifproblems are detected.

If you want to resample yourwell, contact your local officeof the provincial departmentof Health and Wellness orEnvironment and Local

Government. These offices can also be contacted ifyou are planning to build a new home and needinformation regarding wells.

What to do if your Wellis no Longer Needed

We tend to be concerned about thesafety of our wells while they areoperating, but should we not also be

concerned about them after they are abandonedand no longer in use?

Proper closure of an abandoned well willensure the well will not be used inappropriatelyfor things such as chemical and waste disposal.A well that is not properly closed down providesa direct connection between the ground surfaceand the aquifer. This increases the chances ofsurface contaminants reaching the groundwaterresource and drinking water supplies.

You should contact your regional office of theDepartment of Environment and LocalGovernment to obtain guidelines on how toproperly seal your well. The exact process willvary depending on the type of well that is beingclosed. However, the general process is the sameand should be done by a licensed wellcontractor:

• Material in the well, such as pumps anddebris, are removed.

• The well is filled with a bentonite mixture,starting from the bottom, until the hole isfilled.

• The casing may be removed as the well isbeing filled in if possible. Otherwise it maybe cut below the ground surface.

A well properly decommissioned will helpprevent contamination of potable groundwatersupplies.

References:Department of Environment and Local Government. Undated. Facts on Water.

Environment New Brunswick. Undated. Before You Drill Your Water Well,Points to Remember. Environment New Brunswick Water Resources Branch.11p.

Homeowners arerequired by law

to test the waterquality of theirnew, deepenedor repaired well.

New Brunswick Regulation 93-203 under the Clean Water Act(O.C. 93-979) filed December 21, 1993.

Web Site: www.gnb.ca/elg-egl/0373/0001/0009-e.html

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After your well has been constructed, youmust use your prepaid well water-testingvoucher to have the quality of your drinking

water tested. The quality of drinking water isdetermined by chemical and bacteriological testing.Simply smelling or looking at the water cannotdetect many water quality problems. Therefore, it isimportant to have your water tested regularly by anaccredited or certified laboratory to ensure it is safeto drink.

Chemical testing of drinking water includesmeasuring the pH, hardness and the levels of nitrate,chloride, sulfate and various metals. Certainelements such as manganese and iron, if present indrinking water, may cause aesthetic problems suchas colour and/or odour. The presence of otherchemicals or elements such as arsenic, uranium orlead in water may pose certain health risks if nottreated properly.

Some elements occur naturally. Natural processessuch as minerals leaching from sediment and rockcan slowly lead to changes in the quality of yourdrinking water. Water quality can also changequickly, for example, if affected by human activity.

Bacteriological testing includes total coliform andE.coli tests. The presence of bacteria indicates apossible health risk that needs to be followed up.Although aquifers generally filter groundwater,many types of bacteria can still find their way intoyour well. Bacterial contamination can result fromimproper septic tank operation or leaching of animalwastes into the groundwater.

Water Quality To be sure your water is safe to drink it isimportant to have your water tested regularly.

It is also a good idea to test your water if:• Family members or livestock become ill for no apparent reason

• Your neighbours have water quality problems

• A chemical spill occurs near your well

• Chemicals are applied to land near your well

• There is a change in taste, smell or colour of your water

• Roadwork, salting or blasting occurs in your vicinity

Parameter

Low pH or high pH

Hardness

Iron and Manganese

Hydrogen Sulphide

Parameter

Total coliforms and E.coli tests

Nitrate/Nitrite

Arsenic

Uranium

Lead

Associated aesthetic problems if parameter is not within acceptable guidelines• corrosion

• staining or scaling of pipes, bathtubs, and kettles

• staining of pipes and laundry

• discolouration of water

• water with strange taste and smell

• water with strange taste and smell (rotten eggs)

Associated health problems if parameter is found above acceptable levels

• gastrointestinal problems or diarrhea

• may cause life-threatening illness especially in infants, the elderly andimmunosuppressed people

• may cause life-threatening methaemoglobinaemia whereby tissues become oxygendeprived, especially susceptible are infants under the age of 3 months

• long term exposure may lead to cancer risk

• acute poisoning may cause abdominal pain or vomiting

• long term exposure may lead to cancer risk

• accumulation of lead in body may cause problems with central nervous system,mainly problematic for young children/infants and pregnant women

Water Quality Problems


Proper care of your well is a good way to protectthe quality of your drinking water and reducefuture repair costs.

Well maintenance begins with proper recordkeeping. Your records should include details aboutthe well’s construction (well log), results of waterquality tests and information about maintenancework.

Periodically, checkyour well to makesure the well cap isin place and theabove ground wellcasing is notcracked or corroded.Also, inspect thearea surroundingthe well tomake suresurface water isdraining away from the welland not pooling.

Water quality may vary throughout the yeardepending on the season. To be sure your water issafe to drink, you should have your water tested forbacteria twice a year (spring and fall) and forinorganics at least every two years. If you suspect awater quality problem, however, you should haveyour water tested as soon as possible.

To check your water quality, you will need to pickup a sampling kit from a local office of the provincial

departments of Health and Wellness or Environmentand Local Government. The kit includes samplebottles and instructions on how to properly collect awell water sample. After collection, the sample canbe submitted to the provincial governmentlaboratory or an accredited private industrylaboratory for testing and analysis. If you receiveresults from an accredited private laboratory thatindicate the presence of bacteria you shouldimmediately contact your local Department of

Health and Wellnessoffice for assistance onappropriate correctiveaction.

Keep chemicals andwaste away from yourwell to preventcontamination. Also, keepyour septic system ingood condition in order to

avoid water quality problems.

It is important to note any changes in the amountof water that can be pumped from your well. Adecrease in the well’s output over time can indicateyour well is either clogged due to bacterial ormineral build-up, or your pump is not workingproperly.

A well contractor can remove the build-up ofminerals and bacteria by injecting strong acids intoyour well or by physically agitating and removingthe build-up from the well. If there is a problemwith the pump or pumping system, a licensed wellcontractor or qualified pump installer should beconsulted.

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Maintaining and Testing Your Well

Did you know it takes as little as onelitre of gasoline to contaminate onemillion litres of groundwater?

Gasoline is only one of many chemicals thatcan contaminate groundwater resources.

Domestic wells can become contaminatedfrom nearby or distant sources. In any case,care must be taken to protect our groundwatersupplies. This is especially important sincecontaminated groundwater can travel in thesubsurface from one area to another.

Following are some of the more commonsources of harmful chemicals that can maketheir way into groundwater:

• Pesticides and fertilizers

• Leaking gasoline tanks(from cars andunderground storagetanks)

• Home heating oilspills or leaks

• Garbage disposalsites

• Waste from mining activities

Bacteria from manured fields, septic tanksand animal wastes can also find their way intogroundwater and impact the quality of watersupplies.

Following are some things you can do toprevent bacterial and chemical contaminationof your drinking water:

• Avoid the use of pesticides and fertilizers

• Clean up chemical spills right away

• Check for leaking septic tanks

• Keep garbage in a proper storage place

• Minimize the amount of activity aroundyour well

• Ensure surface water doesn’t pool in thearea around your well

Protecting YourDrinking Water

Check your well to makesure the well cap is in placeand the above ground well

casing is not cracked or corroded.

Keep chemicalsand waste awayfrom your well

to preventcontamination.


8


It’s a fact that we need freshwater to survive! Eachand every day we depend onfreshwater to live and for our

quality of life. Yet, almost everyonetakes it for granted. Freshwater, in

the form of groundwater, is aprecious resource.

In North America andmany other developed parts

of the world, consumptionof freshwater has

increased to thepoint where we useit up at a faster rate than nature canreplenish it. Unlike coal, oil or gas,freshwater is a renewable resource.

However, more water can be taken out of the ground than canbe put back in. Population growth, increasedliving standards, inefficient use and wastethreaten our supply of freshwater.

The human body requires four litres offreshwater a day to survive. That is about onewash pail of water a day for every person onEarth. We also use water for domesticpurposes such as cooking, bathing andcleaning. On average, we use about 326 litres,or about 82 wash pails of water, per personper day in Canada for indoor uses alone.

It is time to take responsibility for our actions. We must alllearn to become more water wise. Water conservation will notonly help you minimise water use but can save money as well.

Water Conservation: It is Important!

ReferencesHenry, J.G. and G.W. Heinke. 1996. Environmental Science andEngineering. Prentice Hall, Inc., Toronto. 778p.

Montgomery, C.W. 1995. Environmental Geology, 4th edition.Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Toronto. 496p.

Murphy, B. and D. Nance. 1998. Earth Science Today. Brooks/Cole& Wadsworth, Toronto. 684p.

Price, M. 1985. Introducing Groundwater. George Allen andUnwin, Boston. 195p.

Todd, D.K. 1980. Groundwater Hydrology, 2nd edition. John Wileyand Sons, Toronto. 535p.

Web Siteswww.epa.gov/OW/you/chap3.html

http://www.epa.gov/owm/water-efficiency/index.htm

http://www.getwise.org

NOTE: All About Your Well is not a legal document. For completeinformation regarding regulatory requirements with respect to welldrilling, an office of the NB DELG may be contacted.

What

Can

You

do t

o C

onse

rve?

Turn off the faucet whenshaving or brushing teeth

Install a low-flowshowerhead

Only rundishwashers

and washingmachines

when theyare full

Water the garden in theearly morning or eveninghours during the

summer toreduce water

lost toevaporation

Place a plastic containerfilled with water or sandin the toilet tank toreduce the amount ofwater per flush

Repair leakyor damagedfaucets

61

2

3

4

5

The humanbody requires

four litres of freshwater

a day to survive.

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