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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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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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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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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Department of Environment & Conservation

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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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Department of Environment & Conservation

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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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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