What is the Ground Water Protection Regulation?

On November 1, 2005, a new regulation that affects all private well owners in BC came into force to improve the safety and quality of British Columbia's ground water resources.

The Ground Water Protection Regulation establishes standards to protect ground water supplies by requiring all water wells in BC to be properly constructed, maintained, and, at the end of their service, properly deactivated and ultimately closed.

Why is it important to follow the regulation?

By following the regulation, well owners can protect their own water supply and that of their neighbours, and help to keep ground water resources healthy and clean for future generations.

What are the changes?

New standards for water supply well.

All water supply wells constructed after November 1, 2005 are legally required to meet the minimum construction standards in the Ground Water Protection Regulation. This means that new drilled and dug water supply wells must have a:

Surface Seal - to prevent contaminants from the surface or a shallow subsurface zone from entering the well. Seal must be at least 2.5 cm. (1") thick.

Secure Well Cap - to prevent direct and unintended entry into the well of any water or undesirable substances at the surface of the ground, including floodwater, ponded water, and contaminants.

Well Casing Stick-up - to help floodproof the well. Stickup must be at least 30 cm. (12") from the well surface to the top of the casing.

Wellhead Graded - to drain surface water away from the wellhead.

Well Identification (ID) Plate - well drillers are responsible for attaching a well identification plate to a new water supply well.

Control or Stopped Artesian Flow - to prevent wasting water, the driller must construct the well in a manner that stops or controls any artesian flow.

Qualified contractors must drill the well and install the well pumps.

• All water wells must be constructed by or under the direct supervision of qualified well drillers (QWD) except for dug wells less than 15 meters (50 feet) deep.
• Pumps for water well must be installed by or under the direct supervision of qualified well pump installers (QWPI).
• Registered well drillers and pump installers have identification cards issued by the Ministry.

What are my responsibilities under the regulation?

A private well owner must do as follows:

Deactivate or close a well no longer in use.

• Wells that have not been used for five years must be deactivated. Deactivating a well means capping, securing, protecting, and maintaining the well in a safe and sanitary condition while it is out of service.
• Deactivated wells not used for 10 years must be properly closed. Closure involves backfilling and sealing the well. Drilled or dug wells more than 5 meters (15 feet) deep must be closed by a QWD.

Cap the well.

• Ensure a secure and vermin-proof cap is installed by October 31, 2007 if the well, regardless of when it was constructed, does not have a cap.

Maintain the well identification plate.

• Ensure the well identification plate is maintained and protected from damage, and the number one the plate is clearly visible.
• If the plate is damaged or lost, a new one must be obtained and attached to the well as soon as possible. Well identification plates can be obtained free of charge by contacting a regional Ministry of Environment office.

Protect the well.

• It is illegal to put any junk in an active or abandoned well, eg. pesticides or fertilizers, carcasses, human or animal waste, refuse, or materials from construction or demolition.
• Do not disturb the wellhead or the surface seal.
• Operate the well in a manner that prevents the intrusion of salt water or contaminated water into the well, or into the aquifer from which the water is withdrawn (eg. don't over-pump).
• Protect the stickup from physical damage.

What can I do without hiring a contractor?

A private well owner can do the following:

• Disinfect the pump and well.
• Ensure the pump house is in good repair and kept free of chemicals and other contaminants such as pesticides, fertilizers, and gasoline.
• Attach or replace a damaged or lost well identification plate.
• Cap the well, if a commercially available cap is used.
• Take water quality samples to ensure the well water is potable.