Current practices in private water well management in Rural Central Alberta

Abstract

Approximately 238,000 to 450,000 Albertans rely on private water wells for their water needs. In Canada, private well owners are responsible for monitoring and maintaining the quality of their water well, yet studies in Alberta indicate that owners do not undertake regular well maintenance or testing. This survey obtained information regarding farming and water well management practices, and drinking water preferences among private well owners in central Alberta. Questionnaires, water samples and drilling report information collected from 97 respondents between March 2015 and June 2017 were evaluated. Total coliforms were present (TC+) in 20/97 samples. There were no significant associations between well design and construction characteristics and the presence of TC+. Twenty-four and 20 respondents reported undertaking annual bacterial and chemical testing, respectively. Twenty-five respondents indicated their well had been shock chlorinated within the past three years. Concern about contamination (n = 28) was not significantly associated with increased frequency of water quality testing, well maintenance with shock chlorination, or purchasing of bottled water as an alternative drinking water. There has been little change since 2010 in the uptake of free water testing provided by Alberta Health Services. The organoleptic properties of water reported by respondents indicated shock chlorination might benefit a number of premises. Poultry producers are more likely to test their well water for bacterial and chemical contamination on an annual basis due to mandatory requirements stipulated by the poultry industry. There may be potential for a similar mandatory water testing guideline to be implemented for beef producers in Alberta. There is a need for education programs targeting rural well owners. The Working Well program information packages provided by the Government of Alberta provide an excellent source of information for water well owners. This survey indicates that new ways to disseminate this information to a broader audience are required.

Keywords:

• Alberta groundwater
• water well contamination
• rural water
• water treatment

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the livestock producers and acreage owners who participated in this research project. We would like to thank the veterinarians and their staff who facilitated recruitment of participants. We would also like to thank the technologists in the Environment Program at ProvLab South, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Alberta Health Services in Calgary, Alberta for their unfailing support of the project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this project was gratefully received from the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Strategic Research and Development Program and the Alberta Innovates, Water Innovation Program.