NOV . 2016 | 25
A Drink to Your Health
Maintaining and sustaining a safe water supply
Many Albertans depend on a groundwater source which may be accessed from drilled , driven or hand-dug wells . Each of these well types requires maintenance , monitoring and upgrading to keep wells functional and safe .
A monitoring program in place will identify changes in water levels and quality , raising awareness before serious problems develop .
A secure cap is important to keep creatures from entering the casing . Casing at a proper height is necessary to stop overland runoff from entering . The actual installation of the well may have been substandard or damaged later on , causing contamination .
A neglected or poorly maintained septic system is a red flag . Private wastewater systems require monitoring and maintenance . Tanks are sized differently and require pumping depending on the degree of usage . An older system may not meet today ’ s standards and poses a greater risk to groundwater .
It is important not to over-pump a water well . Pulling water out faster than recommended happens when the demands of household and / or livestock watering do not allow the well to recharge ( refill ) adequately . The underground material , possibly sand , may be pulled into the well from the waterbearing formation and compromise well integrity .
Alberta Environment recommends testing domestic water twice yearly and shock chlorinating once per year . Alberta Health Services offers bottles and information for do-it-yourself sampling for bacteria and chemistry .
Shock chlorination , a disinfecting process , can be done by the landowner or a water well driller . As far as tackling the process yourself , there are some key pieces of information needed to create a bleach-to-water formula . Drillers are required to submit a drilling report to Alberta Environment and leave a
copy with the original well owner . This data is entered into a database for future reference and useful for subsequent landowners . The website www . environment . alberta . ca will get one started to find a drilling report .
It is always recommended that a water test be done first and that the well owner obtain qualified coaching . Knowledge of the process is important when engaging the services of a well driller .
Reports may not be available for older wells , therefore a search may be done by legal land location . A well driller may be able to assist based on knowledge of an area or with specialized equipment .
For assistance with managing your water well and septic systems or to take advantage of our water well chlorination system give us a call at Agricultural Services and Landcare at 403-845-4444 .
Alberta Health Services offers bottles and information for do-it-yourself sampling for bacteria and chemistry .
www . clearwatercounty . ca