“A Water Well Monitoring Parameters Technical Guideline was developed recently by the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), a collaboration among the Government of Alberta, the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB) and the agricultural industry. It provides guidance on monitoring water wells used for domestic or livestock purposes located near confined feeding operations or manure facilities that require monitoring. The guideline outlines water well monitoring parameters, sampling methods, frequency and how to interpret the results,” says Vince Murray, AOPA engineer with the Alberta government and co-chair of TAG.
In Alberta, annual water well sampling is recommended for anyone with a household or farm water well. The NRCB, as the regulator, can make monitoring of these types of wells a requirement at confined feeding operations or manure storage facilities. The frequency of testing will be determined by the NRCB depending on the situation and interpretation of the results.
Monitoring programs typically focus on specific parameters that can indicate potential groundwater impacts. Chloride and nitrate-nitrogen are found at high levels in manure and can move quickly through soil and groundwater. As a result, they are commonly used as early warning signs of potential issues. Based on provincial data, chloride levels of 120 mg/L or above, or nitrate-nitrogen levels at 3 mg/L or higher, were determined as indicators that groundwater may be impacted.
In some cases, the NRCB may also request E. coli and total coliform tests to further evaluate contamination concerns, including but not limited to situations such as:
- wells that may be at higher risk due to location or surrounding conditions
- rising chloride or nitrate levels or showing signs of a problem above the set limit
- wells that have previously tested positive for bacteria
“To make results meaningful, it is important to use consistent sampling methods, test the same indicators and report results the same way each time,” says Murray. He also recommends using the same accredited lab to reduce variation in results.
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