What should I do if my well is running short of water?

January 29, 2019

It is very rare that an artesian well will run short of water during its first year of use. However, it is important to remember that an artesian well is directly influenced by nature and therefore unforeseeable events can occur, reducing the efficiency of your well. For example, water channels can become blocked or dry up. This may result in reduced water pressure, intermittent water flow or total loss of water flow.

What options should I consider?

First, you need to determine the cause. The problem may simply be the result of a defective pump or damage to one of the components of the pumping system. However, if there is nothing wrong with the pumping system, you should have your well inspected to identify the problem.

Once the inspection has been performed, you will have two options to choose from:

Deepening your well

Depending on the age of your well and the needs of your household, both options may be possible. Here are a couple of scenarios where deepening your well would be the most feasible solution.

Hydraulic fracturing

In all other situations, we have obtained excellent results using hydraulic fracturing and, in our opinion, it is the best solution for low well yield. This technique can be done quickly and the final cost is determined in advance, before work is begun, since there are almost never any unexpected surprises during hydraulic fracturing, which is not the case with well deepening. No excavation is required and you can use your water the same day, unless the slide breaks during the work, which is a very rare occurrence.

What is the minimum quantity of water needed?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of 20 liters of water daily per person to the meet the basic needs of hydration and personal hygiene. The WHO further specifies that 50 liters are needed to live decently but, to live comfortably, 100 liters of water are required. Yet, the average Quebecer consumes more than 570 liters of drinkable water per day (2015).

If you have any questions concerning your artesian well, please do not hesitate to contact our team of experts.

Références : http://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/eau/strategie-quebecoise/strategie2018-2030.pdf