Filling an artesian well

Every owner of an artesian well in Quebec has responsibilities regarding the maintenance of their water supply system. Along with these responsibilities, there are regulations on groundwater extraction (RPEP) which aim to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination.

As such, in cases where an artesian well owner no longer needs their well, it is their responsibility to fill it. Once they do so, they are no longer required to perform ongoing maintenance.

Filling is permanent, and must be done by professionals conforming to certain established norms:

• The well casing must be excavated to a depth of one meter from the soil’s surface.
• The steel casing must be cut off at the base of the excavation.
• The part of the borehole in contact with the geological horizon must be filled in with clean sand.
• The remaining steel casing section must be then filled with bentonite or a mix of cement-bentonite.
• A material that won’t degrade the underground water quality must be used.
• A concrete slab must be placed on top of the steel casing.
• The excavation is then back-filled with the originally excavated material.

For any questions regarding artesian wells, please feel free to contact us. Our team is happy to answer all of your questions.