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Presented by: Eric Watton, B.Sc.
2012 Clean and Safe Drinking Water WorkshopMarch 29, 2012
Wellhead Inspection Report Program
Abandoned Water Wells and
Public Water Supplies
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Outline
DefinitionsWellhead Inspection ReportWell owner responsibilityThe threat associated with abandoned wells
Water well design and constructionGUDISub-surface well interaction
Well SealingWhy and howRequired report
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Well Inspection Report
A report that examines the condition at and around a wellhead.Reported to the owner of the Wellhead(s)Used for non-domestic and domestic wellsWill be updated and modified for future inspection – Annual Water Well Construction Report
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Components
Well annulus not properly sealed
Area around well not properly sloped
Well buried or not accessible
Well located too near a building
Source of contamination
Wellhead cap
Venting
Not high enough
Abandoned well nearby
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Components continued
Wellhead area (whether it is protected or not)
NEW COMPONENTSCamera Inspection
Total depthCasing lengthDrive ShoeCoupling with bedrock/otherPossible water flow zones
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
GUDI
Groundwater Under Direct Influence of Surface Water
Examples:
Surface water running into the casing
Shallow groundwater flowing into the borehole/well under the casing and/or drive shoe
Surface water and/or shallow groundwater flowing into a well via a fracture or other transport means
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Water Flowing into a Well
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Abandoned or Inactive Well
Abandoned wells are wells that are not in use. These wells may have been deactivated for a number of reasons including insufficient yield, faulty construction, contaminant issues, because the well has past its life cycle, or other reason. These wells need to be sealed to protect the surrounding groundwater resource.
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
OpenAnnulus
Contaminated Water
Sealed Annulus
Contaminated Water
1 23 4
Flow Flow
ImproperlySeated
Drive Shoe
Fracture FlowWith Arsenic
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Abandoned Well !!
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Open Well Annulus
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Sealed Well?
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Sealed Well?
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Active OR Abandoned ?
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Where is the well ?
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
There it is !
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Outdoor Public Water Supply
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Inside a Pump house
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Reasons to Seal a Well
Isolate a water-bearing zone/formation.
Prevent downward movement of surface water and other foreign materials into the well and aquifers.
Prevent up and down movement of groundwater between water bearing formations and subsurface formations.
Prevent migration of groundwater between waterbearing formations and the ground surface (artesian condition and flowing wells).
Prevent aquifer depressurization by stopping theupward movement of water between the casing and the borehole.
In certain areas of the province, prevent hydrocarbon movement in areas stated above.
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Well Owner ResponsibilityWell Drilling Regulations, 2003Maintenance of well and abandoned well18.(1) The owner of a well shall maintain the well at
all times after its completion date in a manner sufficient to prevent the entry of surface water and other foreign materials into the well.
(2) The owner of a well not in use shall cap the well with a device commercially manufactured and of a type approved by the minister sufficient to prevent the entry of a substance that might impair the quality of water in the well.
(3) Where a well is dry or abandoned and its continued existence might result in the impairment of groundwater, the owner shall fill and seal the well in a manner sufficient to prevent the vertical movement of water in it by a method approved by the minister.
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Water Resources Management
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Department of Environment & Conservation
Thank You
?? Questions ??
Wellhead Inspection Report Program ��Abandoned Water Wells� and �Public Water SuppliesOutlineWell Inspection ReportComponentsComponents continuedSlide Number 6Slide Number 7Slide Number 8Slide Number 9GUDIWater Flowing into a WellAbandoned or Inactive WellSlide Number 13Abandoned Well !!Open Well AnnulusSealed Well?Sealed Well?Active OR Abandoned ?Slide Number 19Slide Number 20Where is the well ?There it is !Outdoor Public Water SupplyInside a Pump houseReasons to Seal a WellSlide Number 26Slide Number 27Well Owner ResponsibilityThank You