Rules to respect when installing a well
December 15, 2015
Because there are a lot of rules and regulations to follow, it is absolutely necessary for the drilling of your artesian well to be done by a reputable company. The regulations on water catchment from the Ministry of Environment of Quebec is a guide to the process. Our team is trained, accredited and up to date on the latest standards in order to carry out your project according to the rules of the trade.
Here are a few points to note.
The location
Unfortunately you cannot drill your well just any where you choose to on your property. There are some distances to respect in order to not contaminate your water. here are some of them:
- 15 meters from a septic tank
- 30 meters from a drainage field
- 30 meters from a cultivated field
For farmland and farmhouses:
- 30 meters from a manure spread
- 300 meters from a manure storage
- 30 meters from a stable
- 75 meters from a cattle breeding stall
The sealing
In the event that your well is installed nearer than the distances indicated, a bentonite sealant will then be required. This step should be accomplished by a professional in order to prevent any infiltration into your well and to thereby maintain the good quality of your water. The sealing is successful, if among others:
- It has been sealed to a minimum depth of 5 meters
- There should be a minimum of 5cm of bentonite injected around the well’s steel casing
Disinfection
Once the work has been completed, you are obliged to disinfect your well in a manner to destroy all potential contamination that might have occurred during the construction. Follow the instructions in this article.
Maintenance
Once your well has been drilled, all you have to do is preserve the good quality of your water by doing a few checks from time to time:
- Check that there are no animals and dead leaves near your well
- Check that there is no stagnant water in proximity to your well
- Keep the cover closed
- Check that there are no cracks in the tube which could allow surface water or residues to seep into your well
- Avoid treating the land near your well with fertilizer or pesticides
- Abstain from disposing of chemical products such as oil, solvents, paint, etc. in the toilets
Testing
You are no longer obliged by law to have your water tested by a laboratory accredited by the Ministry of Environment after drilling a well. But for precautionary measures, we strongly advise you to do this test which will assure you of the good quality of your water.
If the rules are not followed during the drilling of your well, you will find yourself with a well that does not conform to the standards required by law. This could have a negative impact at the sale of your house or even worse, on your health.
You will find all the necessary information in this document.
