Frequently asked
Questions about water wells
Nanaimo Well Drilling answers the 12 questions well owners across Electoral Areas A, B, E and F ask us first. We explain why neighbouring wells differ, how aquifer ratings work, and what causes artesian flows in the Regional District of Nanaimo. We check public GWELLS records for your address to show you what information exists for your well. We help you understand what the ground gives before any equipment arrives on your site.
- What is the difference between a bedrock well and a sand-and-gravel well?
- Bedrock wells take water from fractures in rock, whereas sand-and-gravel wells pull water from gaps between sediment grains. The practical difference between the two is substantial. Aquifer 161 at Cassidy has a median depth near 13 m and yields around 20 US gallons a minute. In neighbouring bedrock, Aquifer 162 runs about 50 m deep for roughly 2 US gallons a minute, so we check your lot before quoting.
- Is there water under every property?
- Published well records show us what we can expect on your property. Aquifer 220 at Errington shows a median yield of 3 US gallons a minute, Cedar and Yellow Point run about 2, and Cassidy sits near 20. We review local well records for your address before quoting so you get real data instead of guesses.
- Why do two wells on neighbouring lots give different amounts?
- Water moves through distinct cracks in bedrock rather than flowing evenly through solid stone. One drill hole can hit a high-yielding fracture while a hole a few metres away misses it. Aquifer 162 shows a median yield near 2 US gallons a minute and an average near 5, showing wide variation between lots. That is why your neighbour's result tells you so little about yours.
- What is a well identification plate?
- A numbered tag from the comptroller attached to your well casing after drilling so the identification number shows clearly. It links your physical well directly to its public file in GWELLS, the provincial groundwater database. We fit yours when we finish the well.
- How long does a new well take?
- Most residential wells are drilled in one to three days once we are on your site. We seal, clean, disinfect, and tag your well right away, then submit your construction report to the Province within 90 days.
- Can an existing well supply a new house?
- Sometimes, and we answer that by measuring it, not by how old it is. What matters is current yield, water quality and the condition of the casing and seal. We use camera surveys and yield tests to confirm condition, so missing older records will not disqualify your well.
- What is a flowing artesian well?
- An artesian well has natural underground pressure pushing water up to the ground surface. Provincial records show artesian wells near Nanoose Peninsula, on Nanoose Hill, on Gabriola Island, and in Errington. The Groundwater Protection Regulation mandates that artesian flows be controlled, with equipment maintained by qualified drillers. If you have one, those rules apply to your well.
- Does the Regional District regulate wells?
- We construct all wells to provincial standards under the Groundwater Protection Regulation. The Regional District of Nanaimo handles watershed protection, well testing and upgrade rebates, and groundwater proof for rezoning un-serviced lots. You get provincial construction standards on the well and regional district rebates on the work.
- What does a "low productivity" aquifer rating mean?
- Aquifer productivity ratings classify overall groundwater supply rather than predicting a single well. Aquifer 220 at Errington carries a low productivity rating, averaging 3 US gallons a minute with range limits of 1 and 5. Wells work there, and we design your system for that narrow margin.
- What makes a well go salty?
- Sea water intrusion results from drilling near the coast and pumping faster than groundwater recharges. Pumping a coastal well harder than natural recharge draws ocean water into your underground supply. Sea water intrusion is documented at Silva Bay and Degnen Bay on Gabriola Island, and in the Cedar and Yellow Point area, and saltwater intrusion potential is identified in coastal parts of the Nanoose aquifers. On a coastal lot we set your draw rate with that in mind.
- Can rainwater replace a well?
- You do not need to replace your well, but adding rainwater catchment offers great backup on Gabriola Island. Many owners capture rainwater alongside their well, adjusting to an island aquifer that receives 199 mm of annual recharge.
- What records exist for a well drilled decades ago?
- Possibly none. Older wells drilled before reporting rules came in may have no records in GWELLS. We bridge missing historical files by conducting camera inspections and yield tests to give you accurate current data.
Find out what is under your property.
Free written quotes across the rural Regional District of Nanaimo and in Parksville.
Request a site assessment Text or call (778) 762-3661