SVCA
Water Well Improvement Program
SVCA and the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) are now partnering to offer a Water Well Improvement Program that will financially support landowners in their efforts to protect groundwater within the Saugeen Valley jurisdiction. Managed and delivered by SVCA, the Water Well Improvement Program will provide funding to properly 
decommission and upgrade water wells, which can be a direct conduit of contaminants to groundwater.
In Ontario, if a well is not being used or maintained for future use as a well, then the owner is legally required under R.R.O 1990, Regulation 903: WELLS of the Ontario Water Resources Act to plug and seal the well. Decommissioning or upgrading such wells will reduce the risk of contamination to local aquifers, surface water sources and drinking water sources. Damaged or poorly maintained drinking water wells must be maintained to prevent groundwater contamination, as they also pose a threat to personal and public health.
Do your part by participating in the SVCA Water Well Improvement Program (WWIP)!
WWIP at a Glance
Cost Share details:
Well Decommissioning
To prevent groundwater contamination via improperly abandoned or unused wells by encouraging the proper plugging of wells that are dry or no longer used:
- Tier 1 – For wells on private property outside of Municipal Drinking Water Well Head Protection Areas
- Approved projects will be funded at 100% up to a maximum of $1,000 per well.
- Tier 2 – For wells on private property within a Municipal Drinking Water Wellhead Protection Area
- Approved projects will be funded at 100% up to a maximum of $2,000 per well.
- Approved projects will be funded at 100% up to a maximum of $2,000 per well.
Wellhead Protection and Upgrading:
To reduce the risk of contamination of water well by implementing proper construction and maintenance practices and safeguards for existing wells.
- Tier 1 – Outside of Municipal Drinking Water Wellhead Protection Areas
- Approved projects funded at 80% up to a maximum of $750 per well.
- Tier 2 – Within a Municipal Drinking Water Wellhead Protection Area
- Approved projects funded at 80% up to a maximum of $1,500 per well
- Approved projects funded at 80% up to a maximum of $1,500 per well
How to apply to the SVCA Water Well Improvement Program:
Click on the document links provided here for more details including program guidelines, eligibility, and application materials. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Brittany Taylor, Water Resources Technician at 519-369-4475 or email: stewardship@svca.on.ca with any questions or assistance with completing the application form.
- WWIP and NWMO Program Guideline for Decommissioning and Wellhead Protection 2020
- WWIP and NWMO – Well Decommissioning Project Guidelines
- WWIP and NWMO – Wellhead Protection Project Guidelines
- SVCA Well Decommissioning Application Form
- SVCA Wellhead Protection/Upgrade Application Form
Are you in the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority’s watershed? Watershed Map
For more about Municipal Drinking Water Wellhead Protection in your area go to Source Water Protection Portal for mapping: http://swpip.ca/
Looking for Well Record information?
Contact the Water Well Help Desk at 1-888-396-WELL (9355) or helpdesk@waterwellontario.ca or use the website map tool at to see Ontario Environment and Energy Map-Well Records.
Need to find a Licensed Well Contractor?
Go to: www.ontario.ca/page/find-licenced-well-contractors
For more information:
- https://www.grandriver.ca/en/our-watershed/Rural-Water-Quality-Program.aspx
- https://www.grandriver.ca/en/our-watershed/Wellington.aspx
- http://www.mvca.on.ca/stewardship-programs/water-quality-programs/
- https://www.huroncounty.ca/plandev/county-wide-projects/water-protection/
- https://www.ontario.ca/environment-and-energy/map-well-records
- https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/
- https://www.greyagservices.ca/index.php/georgian-soil-crop