The Rideau Valley
Rural Clean Water Program
Money is now available to help rural landowners outside the City of Ottawa protect their drinking water supply by improving the safe operation and maintenance of existing private wells. The Rideau Valley Rural Clean Water Program has just announced that well upgrades, well head protection measures, and well plugging or decommissioning is covered by incentive grants. These well grants help bridge the gap since the Ontario Federation of Agriculture well grants stopped.
In its first year of operation, the Rural Clean Water Program approved 40 projects including livestock fencing from watercourses, septic system repairs and replacements, and better fuel storage facilities.
Funding is now available. The following lists the type of projects covered
- installation of pitless adaptors to replace drilled well pits
- grading and permanent seeding of soil surface around wells
- extension of well casings to a minimum of 40 cm (16 inches) above the finished ground level
- proper well head caps
- water testing
Work must be completed by a licensed well contractor and meet the requirements of all applicable laws and by-laws. For farmers, an Environmental Farm Plan and Farm Business Registration Number are needed to be eligible. For non-farmers, an Environmental Site Plan must be completed. The Program will pay up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $500 per project to upgrade wells.
The safe sealing of abandoned or dormant wells is also covered. Grants are available for the proper plugging of the unused well by a licensed well contractor to prevent any potential contamination of groundwater through these wells. For decommissioning wells, the Program pays up to 75% of eligible costs to a maximum of $500.
For information on getting you projects in line for some grant money, call the LandOwner Resource Centre of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority at (613) 692-3571 (ext 1128 or 1132) or 1-800-387-5304 (same extensions), or visit the RVCA website.
|
