Well Aware

Hearthmakers Energy Co-operative is excited to announce the launch of the fourth season of the Well Aware program in the Greater Napanee, Kingston, Loyalist, Lennox & Addington, Stone Mills and South Frontenac regions!

Rural well owners have the opportunity to have a FREE self-guided well assessment with our certified Water Guide to learn how to better protect their drinking water.

Over 43,000 residents rely on groundwater for their drinking water source in the Kingston/Napanee/South Frontenac/Loyalist Township area alone. 30% of our region's wells exceed Provincial guidelines for total coliform and 11% exceed guidelines for e-coli. Provincially, it was found that 89% of wells are in need of repair, and many homeowners are not testing their water regularly.

Regional groundwater studies in the Cataraqui Region (which stretches from Napanee to Brockville) have shown that our groundwater is highly vulnerable to contamination in many areas. Minimal soil cover over fractured limestone, Canadian Shield bedrock and the presence of Karst are some of the reasons our area is so vulnerable. This means it is particularly important for us to protect the groundwater in our region.

About Well Aware

Well Aware is a program of Green Communities Canada, offered in several communities across Ontario and locally by Hearthmakers Energy Co-operative. We offer FREE guided self-assessments of wells to homeowners wishing to learn more about how to protect their well water and our shared groundwater supplies. Our program is voluntary, non-regulatory and confidential.

Homeowners participating in a guided self-assessment will:

• Find out what makes a good well
• Determine how "well" their well is doing
• Identify priorities for action
• Learn how to take a water sample
• Receive a Well Aware kit and free publications on well maintenance
• Help us to protect our region's groundwater

What does it mean to be Well Aware?

Being Well Aware is about making sure that the well water you and your family depend on is clean, healthy and safe. There are five key elements to being Well Aware:

1. Protecting the water source

   You can help protect your groundwater by keeping contaminants (such as pesticides, fertilizers, manure and road salt) far away from the well, making sure the well has a vented, vermin-proof cap and keeping your well maintained.

2. Testing your well water on a regular basis

   Regular testing of well water helps to ensure that the water you drink is free from contaminants such as bacteria, nitrates and pesticides.

3. Maintaining your well

   Proper well maintenance helps to reduce the risk of contaminants working their way into your well. Give your well an ‘annual check-up' and check it for signs of animals or insects, water seepage or cracks inside the well and any pooling of water around the well. Our certified Water Guide can walk you through the process.

4. Hiring a licensed well contractor for any work on your well

   Hiring a licensed well contractor ensures that any work done on your well will meet the Ontario Clean Water Act's Wells Regulation 903. This is the best way to make sure that your well is doing its job to bring you and your family fresh, clean water.

   It is important when hiring a licensed well contractor that you ensure they have the class of license for your type of well. The current classes (as of April 20, 2007) are as follows:

   • Class 1 — Drilled Wells
   • Class 2 — Dug or Bored Wells
   • Class 3 — Other Well Construction
   • Class 4 — Pump Installation

   If you need help finding a contractor, you can look in the phone book under "Water Well Drilling and Service" or use the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's searchable online listing of licensed well contractors.

   Always ask to see your contractor's license and make sure that it is up to date with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

5. Seal any abandoned wells to make sure they don't lead to the contamination of your active wells

   Old, unused wells provide a direct line for contaminants to reach groundwater aquifers, which may include the aquifer your active well is using. Talk to a licensed well contractor to get any unused wells on your property properly decommissioned.

Book a guided self-assessment

Well assessments take about 2 hours to complete. In order to qualify for a free guided self assessment, wells must be accessible (e.g., not buried under soil), on rural, non-farm properties without municipal water hook-up. We are also able to provide guided self-assessments for homesteads on farm properties. However, we are unable to provide assessments for any wells located on the working part of a farm.

To book your free assessment, or for more information, contact Hearthmakers Energy Co-operative at 613-547-8122 in the Kingston region, toll-free 1-866-547-8122 outside of Kingston, or email csr@hearthmakers.org. You can also book directly on-line by filling out our form.

If you have a friend or neighbour who would be interested in getting a guided well visit from us, please let us know!

How can I get my well water tested?

The Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington Public Health offers free water tests for E. coli and total coliforms. It maintains a list of sample bottle pick-up and drop-off locations and times (PDF).

Well water should be tested at least 3 times a year, with at least one test in spring and one in the fall. Testing is best done after a heavy rain, which often runs the risk of causing the greatest amount of well water contamination if there is a problem with your well.

Well Aware would like to thank:

Well Aware and the Hearthmakers Energy Co-operative would like to thank the following organizations for their invaluable contributions in helping us to deliver the program in our community:

• The Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority
• The Kingston Frontenac Lennox & Addington Public Health

Funding for the Well Aware program has been provided by:

• Ontario Ministry of the Environment

Book a free well visit