I want to buy a rural property. How can I find out if there is a well on the property, whether its yield is good and water quality is potable (safe to drink)?
Search for your water well record on the ministry’s Ground Water website. It is important to also realize the yield reported in the well log is estimated from a short duration test. The actual sustainable yield of the well may be less than that reported in the well record, particularly for bedrock wells. Information on water quality and potability of the ground water is usually NOT included in the well record because water samples are usually taken by others (e.g., home owner), after the driller has left the site. To find out if the water is potable, you should have a water sample taken from the well and have it tested for potability. Consult your local health authority office regarding what to test for.
