There's new funding support available to help farmers do the job.
An old well can contaminate a new well
In proper terms it's called "decommissioning" - a bit official sounding, especially when used to describe the proper plugging of an old farm well. But in today's world, where water quality and availability has taken on a new urgency, the proper plugging of inactive wells has become higher priority.
Water specialist Ken Williamson has seen what he calls "a closing of the knowledge gap" on the subject of managing old water wells. More people are asking for information these days, he says, from his Red Deer office of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (AAFRD). Part of that is due to a general increase in awareness of water management and a genuine desire to act responsibly.
Part of it is that farmers and ranchers who have had to put up with the hassle of finding alternatives to contaminated water and hauling water for personal or livestock use will do anything to avoid the problem. "It costs a lot less and is a lot less hassle to prevent water contamination through an old well than it does to fix the problem," says Williamson.
But the biggest reason is the introduction of Environmental Farm Plans (EFP). EFPs are a simple way for producers to assess what they're doing properly and what needs to be improved to meet proper environmental standards. A properly completed EFP is the ticket to accessing recently announced funding support for environmental improvements.
That's significant.
It's relatively simple to develop an EFP as the more than 3,100 farmers and ranchers who already have completed one, can attest.
It starts with attending one of the free, two-step workshops from the many that are run regularly in local communities across the province. The first workshop explains the process with the help of facilitators and technical specialists. There are a few hours of "self assessment" work, then a second workshop completes the process of developing a personalized, confidential plan for the farm or ranch.
That completed EFP is assessed anonymously by a group of peers and once approved, farmers can use it to qualify for funding assistance under the Canada-Alberta Farm Stewardship Program (CAFSP).
Funding assistance for farmers under CAFSP is substantial. Up to $30,000 per farm is available for a wide range of categories. In the case of water well management, the program shares up to 50 percent to a maximum of $6,000 for landowners.
Before attempting to plug an inactive water well, it is important to know the steps involved in this very specific process, as well as the materials required and costs involved, says Williamson. With the average cost of plugging a well running in the $500 to $2,500 range, it is a good idea for landowners to be aware of financial options.
Provincial legislation in Alberta makes the well owner responsible for plugging a water well when the well is no longer being used as a water supply, in a poor state of repair such as in cases where the pumping equipment has been removed and cannot be repaired or replaced, or if it produces water that is unsuitable for drinking.
Plugging a well
The drilling contractor is legally responsible for immediately plugging a well when it is not completed due to construction problems or inadequate yield.
"Before signing a contract with a driller, ask questions about the materials to be used to fill the well and the accompanying costs," says Williamson.
There are specific steps to plugging a well and completing records properly. Some steps can be handled by producers themselves, but some - especially the actual plugging of the well - are likely best handled by a professional. Here's a snapshot.
Remove pumping equipment from the well. Thoroughly flush the well using a bailer or air compressor.
Measure total depth and diameter of the well and non-pumping water level. This information may be available in the driller's report, if it exists. However, even with the actual report it's still a good idea to measure for depth to confirm whether or not the well is open to its original depth.
Choose the plugging material. Although grout, concrete and uncontaminated clay are all acceptable materials for filling in a well, high-yield bentonite - a type of clay that swells when wet to create an impervious seal - is considered by many to be the best option. Bentonite comes in pellet or granular form which, when mixed with water, will swell up to eight times its original size and form a watertight plug. A word of caution, says Williamson. "This product can clump together or 'bridge' at a point above the bottom of the well, and only fill from there to the top, leaving part of the bottom of the old well unfilled."
Disinfect the well. If there has been some bacterial contamination of the well, this is one last chance to deal with it. Add enough granular chlorine to bring the water standing in the well to a chlorine concentration of 200 mg/l. For every 450 litres (100 gallons) of water in the well, add 2 litres (4 gallons) of household bleach.
If possible, remove the well casing. Likely best to hire a well driller for this, but try to pull the casing and lining out of the well. If removing the casing isn't possible, use a casing ripper to go down into the well and tear holes in the casing and liner so the sealant can get through the liner.
Place plugging material into the well. Regulations require that the plugging material be introduced from the bottom of the well and placed progressively upward to the ground surface. The only exception to this rule is when the plugging material being used is bentonite pellets, which have been designed and manufactured for pouring into the well from the ground surface. "Filling from the bottom means a lot better chance of getting a really good seal and fill of the old well," says Williamson.
Casing management. If the casing has not already been removed, dig around it and cut it off to a minimum of 0.5 metres (20 inches) below the ground surface.
Backfill and mound this portion of the hole. Use material appropriate for the intended use of the land (i.e. clay).
Record the details. AAFRD has worksheets that include details such as name, well location, total depth, casing diameter, type and amount of plugging material. Records of the fill are critical, says Williamson. Filing these records with the Alberta Environment Groundwater Information Centre in Edmonton is a courtesy to the next owner of your property "If they've got a record on a well then they also like to record if that well has been decommissioned and when and how it was done, so it's on the database. So if anybody's looking for information on that well, they know it is not in use and has been plugged properly."
Water management is moving at a fast pace and producers get essential information by developing an EFP. But there are many excellent resources available that provide additional background information, says Williamson.
"Help is available from the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company by calling toll-free 1-866-844-AEFP (2337), or by checking the Web site at www.albertaEFP.com. And many excellent resources, including a textbook on water management, "Water Wells That Last For Generations," are available from Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, or by checking the Ropin' the Web site at www.agric.gov.ab.ca."
This article is reprintable with credit to AEFP as follows "Reprinted courtesy of the Alberta Environmental Farm Plan Company; www.albertaEFP.com".
