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How to Care for Your Private Well
- Do not allow liquids or wastes from garbage and manure piles to drain towards the well casing.
- Do not treat the area around the well with pesticides or fertilizer
- Do not flush oils, detergents, paints, solvents or other chemicals down the toilet or in any drain.
- Chlorinate and test your well after any repairs.
| Abandoned wells should be carefully sealed to prevent pollution of groundwater and any safety hazards. The hiring of a well contractor familiar with sealing abandoned wells is strongly recommended. |
Where to Find Help
| Agency Services | |
| Peterborough County-City Health Unit, Health Protection and Promotion Division | Problem solving Information |
| Ministry of the Environment Peterborough District Office (705) 755 4300 1-800-558-0595 |
Well records Information |
| Local water well drilling companies, Consult the yellow pages | Servicing Consultation |
| Ontario Groundwater Association | Recommendations Technical expertise |
| Hazardous chemicals and wastes for county and city residents can be disposed of at the Hazardous waste Depot, 400 Pido Rd., Peterborough. For more information call (705) 876-0461 |
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Chlorinator
- Mechanical unit that continuously adds chlorine to the water storage tank.
- Chlorine in the tank is allowed enough contact time to kill harmful bacteria.
- Requires continuous checking to make sure that the right amount of chlorine is added to water.
Ultra-Violet Light
- Water is passed through an ultra-violet light source to kill harmful bacteria.
- Water should be filtered before treatment.
Distiller
- Device that boils water in one compartment, condenses the vapour and then collects it in another.
- Water should be filtered before treatment and refrigerated after.
- Removes some organic and inorganic chemicals
Ozonator
- Mechanical unit tat adds small amounts of ozone to the water.
- Ozone kills most harmful bacteria.
(these do not kill bacteria) |
Carbon Filter
- Removes some chemicals by passing the water through an activated carbon filter.
- Best at removing tastes, odours and organic chemicals.
- Filters must be changed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Reverse Osmosis
- Removes some chemicals by passing water through a semi permeable membrane.
- Best at removing inorganic chemicals (nitrates).
- Often used in combination with carbon filters.
- Water Should be filtered before treatment.
Softener
- Reduces "hardness" of water.
- May increase salt levels; unsoftened tap water should be used for drinking and cooking
| Health Effects: diarrhea, stomach cramps, |
Bacteria, parasites and viruses | 1. Chlorination (filter methods) 2. Ultra-violet systems 3. Chlorination (injector units) |
| Methaemoglobineamia (blue baby syndrome) | Nitrate | 1. Reverse-osmosis units |
| High Blood Pressure | Sodium | 1. Reverse-osmosis units |
| Scale build up in kettles and water heaters Soap scum, bathtub ring |
Hardness (hard water) | 1. Water softeners |
| Red to brown slime in toilet tanks Iron staining Unpleasant taste or odours |
Iron bacteria | Chlorination filtration units |
| Rusty black stains on fixtures, laundry | Iron and/or manganese | 1. filtration 2. greensand filters 3. water softeners 4. Chlorination-filtration units |
| Rotten-egg smell and taste | Hydrogen sulphide and/or sulphate reducing bacteria | 1.Chlorination-filtration units 2. Greensand filters 3. Aeration |
| Water has laxative effect | Sulphate | 1. Reverse-osmosis units |
| Salty taste, corrosive | Chloride | 1. Reverse-osmosis effect |
| Gassy smell, gas bubbles escaping from water | Gases (methane) | 1. Aeration 2. Activated carbon filters |
| Cloudy water | Turbidity (clay) | 1. Filters 2. Alum treatment |
Acknowledgments: Environment Canada, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Originally Produced by the "Waterloo Regional Health Unit"
Last Revised/Reviewed
Monday, 2010-11-01 10:52 AM