FAQs

We think of coastal BC as having an abundant, if not overabundant supply of water. However, increasing population and changing climate means that demand is also increasing and changing. The quantity and quality of our water resources are directly impacted by human activity, including the amount we use on a daily basis. Moreover, conserving water postpones the development of costly new infrastructure, such as reservoirs, pump stations, and pipelines.

Water is a vital and precious natural resource that supports all life on Earth and connects us all. Freshwater is a small fraction of all the water on the planet. Most water is saltwater stored in the oceans. Only 3% of all the world's water is fresh, and yet most of that is locked away, frozen in glaciers and in ice at the poles. Less than 1% of all the water on planet Earth is accessible freshwater and it is stored in watersheds. So, what is a watershed?

A watershed is a natural area of land that collects water from the atmosphere and transports it to the ocean through a single waterway, such as a river. Watersheds are divided from one another by mountain ranges. As water falls as precipitation on the mountain tops, it runs down the surface to small creeks and streams called tributaries. Tributaries carry the water to larger rivers, which then carries the freshwater out to the ocean.

Watersheds can be defined as the lower, mid, or upper watershed. The upper watershed is the highest part of the watershed. This is where the mountains are! 

The mid watershed is a little lower in elevation. This where you might find rural communities, farms, and agriculture.

The lower watershed is the part of the watershed at the lowest elevation where the river meets the ocean. The lower watershed is usually flatter than the rest and it is where we find cities, roads, and people. 

Watersheds can be very big. It's important to remember that no matter where you are - you are in a watershed!

Learn more about watersheds at www.rdn.bc.ca/what-is-a-watershed(External link)

Not all freshwater stays on the surface of the Earth. As freshwater moves across the Earth's surface, some of it infiltrates or seeps into the layers of soil, sand, and rock below the surface.

Deep below our feet lie aquifers – areas of bedrock or sand and gravel that store groundwater. Tiny cracks and spaces in the rock, sand, and gravel trap and store fresh water underground. The layers of earth act as filters, which trap bacteria and pollutants and clean the water as it infiltrates. 

Groundwater is not static, it moves through the environment too – though sometimes very slowly! Groundwater is closely connected with surface water – in fact, they are the same water! In times of drought, groundwater can resurface into creeks and streams, allowing them to flow even during the hot summer months, where it provides habitat for fish and other animals.

A private domestic water well provides water for household and garden use at an individual dwelling. This does not include wells that provide water for more than one dwelling. Domestic water uses include:

• household drinking water, food preparation and sanitation;
• fire prevention; water for animals or poultry kept for household use, or as pets; and/or
• irrigation of a garden (including a lawn) not exceeding 1,000 m2 on the same parcel or a parcel immediately adjacent to the dwelling.

Any other uses are considered non-domestic and require a Groundwater License from the Province.

In the region, 42% of residents depend on groundwater; a large proportion of these residents have their own private well that they manage for their drinking water.

Improperly constructed or poorly maintained wells can act as a direct pathway for surface contaminants such as manure, petroleum products, and fertilizers to enter the groundwater.

Stewarding our shared groundwater resource helps communities maintain healthy water supplies for families, fish, and our future.

In order to assist residents in maintaining and improving groundwater quality in rural areas, the RDN is offering rebates for well water quality tests and well protection upgrades.

This cost-sharing initiative will:

• Decrease financial barriers to rural residents in improving their well construction. 
• Increase access to water quality testing for rural residents. 
• Prompt well owners to inspect the integrity of their wells and learn more about water quality protection.

Learn more about RDN Water Stewardship Rebate programs at www.rdn.bc.ca/rdn-rebates(External link)

A secure well cap is to prevent direct and unintended entry into the well of any water or undesirable substances or vermin. It is bolted or screwed down and provides a complete coverage to the top of the well casing. For dug wells, the well cap is usually concrete or metal sheeting.

If your well does not have a secure, vermin-proof cap or cover, you may be able to replace the well cap yourself. However, some types of caps require a well driller or pump installer to install correctly as it is more easily dropped into the well and sometimes involves working with the pump's wiring. It is not recommended that well owners try to install this type of well cap on their own.

The well casing stick-up is to help flood-proof the well and prevent water at the ground surface from entering the top of the well. The stick-up should be at least 30 cm (12 inches) above ground surface or from the floor of the pump house to the top of the casing. The ground around outdoor wellheads should be graded, mounded or sloped to drain surface water away from the well.

Upgrades / retrofits done to the well casing must be performed by a qualified well professional. Grading / mounding of the ground around the well can be done by the homeowner.

See this BC Ministry of Environment brochure: Upgrading Wells in Pits(External link)

Usually comprised of bentonite clay, the surface seal is to prevent contaminants from the surface or shallow subsurface zone from entering the well. Seal must be at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick.

Please Note: With respect to surface seal retrofits (upgrades), this work is not done solely as a matter of course (i.e. just because it is an older well and not likely to have a seal). In many cases the cuttings or rock flour surrounding well casing acts as an adequate seal, and trying to install a seal later can damage the well or effectiveness of whatever seal exists.

The surface seal can be retrofit in cases where a Qualified Well Driller(External link) recommends it, because of physical evidence such as a visible unfilled annular space, visible seepage on the inside of the casing from shallow fractures or from where the casing intersects bedrock, or if one is able to physically move the casing around (loose casing), or geochemical evidence that suggests entry into the well of shallow surface water such as high total coliforms. The methods to retrofit a surface seal vary depending on the nature of the problem, and can be technical (e.g. installing an internal liner, or over-drilling the existing casing), and not just a case of pouring a few bentonite pellets down the outside of the well head.

Wells that have not been used for ten years must be closed under the BC Groundwater Protection Regulation(External link). Closing a well means backfilling and sealing the well. If a well has been found to be an irreconcilable point of groundwater contamination, closure may be recommended sooner. This must be performed by a Qualified Well Driller. Please see the Best Practices for Well Closure(External link). Otherwise, a well can be deactivated rather than permanently closed so it is available for future use, but protected properly from surface contamination in the meantime. See the BC Groundwater Protection Regulation for more details. 

Toilets account for 26.7% of total indoor water use. Combined with showers and baths, the bathroom accounts for 61% of all indoor water use. If your home doesn't already have one, consider installing a low-flush toilet or retrofitting your toilet. You can also install aerators on your faucets and shower heads to reduce the flow of water.

Up to 40% of summertime water use is for lawns and landscaping. Here are some quick water saving tips: