In the Credit River Watershed, water seems endlessly abundant, but we’re not immune to shortages and quality issues. This is especially true for those living in the countryside, like Deborah Antoniuk and Doug Ilton, who rely on groundwater. Countryside landowners like Deborah and Doug that rely on well water and are vulnerable to changing groundwater levels and potential contamination. But, like Deborah and Doug, if you maintain your well carefully, you can protect your property’s groundwater too.
Providing a Space for Wildlife
Deborah and Doug enjoy their 1.5-hectare property in Hillsburgh nestled among the trees and backing onto a lake. A healthy forest surrounds their home, creating a private refuge. Many species of wildlife rely on the land and water on their property, such as foxes, wild turkeys, minks, beavers and a variety of waterfowl.
Deborah and Doug enjoy preserving nature on their property. From installing bat houses and turtle nest protectors, to planting native pollinator gardens, they acknowledge rural living comes with the responsibility of protecting the land and providing wildlife habitat.
Maintaining a Healthy Property
After a few years of living on the property, an especially dry summer presented an unforeseen challenge. The water in the old, shallow well they relied on, ran out. In order to resolve the issue, a new well had to be drilled, deeper than before. The new well met all current standards with six meters of below ground casing, 40 centimetres of above ground casing and a vermin-proof cap.
During the well installation, Deborah’s conversation with the licensed well contractor led to further action. They realized there was another well on the property that was no longer in use and not properly sealed. Both old wells did not meet current standards and posed contamination risks to local groundwater sources. The crumbling cement casing was also a safety issue.
Deborah reached out to Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), for assistance. CVC’s stewardship coordinators met with Deborah and Doug and helped them get funding to properly retire the old wells.
Connect With Us
We all benefit from dedicated individuals like Deborah and Doug, who actively make environmental improvements on their properties, while helping to safeguard water and wildlife throughout the watershed.
Learn more about groundwater features and potential projects on your property by connecting with a CVC stewardship coordinator to get started. Funding for groundwater protection projects is also available through CVC’s Landowner Action Fund.
