Well Maintenance 101: Keeping Your Water Supply Safe and Flowing Year-Round
For property owners in rural Nova Scotia, a private water well isn’t just a convenience—it’s a necessity. Whether you rely on your well for drinking water, farming, or commercial operations, proper maintenance is key to keeping that water flowing safely and consistently.
At Shoreline Well Drilling, we’ve worked with homeowners, farmers, and businesses across Western Nova Scotia—from Halifax to the Annapolis Valley, and from Shelburne to Yarmouth—and one thing we always emphasize is the importance of year-round well maintenance.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of maintaining your well system, preventing common issues, and protecting your investment for years to come.
Why Well Maintenance Matters
Your well system works hard, often without much attention—until something goes wrong. Regular maintenance helps you:
Ensure clean, safe drinking water
Maximize the lifespan of your pump and equipment
Avoid costly repairs or emergency service calls
Comply with provincial recommendations for groundwater protection
In short, a little prevention goes a long way. Here’s what to focus on:
1. Know Your Well System
Start by understanding the components of your well:
Wellhead – the visible part of your well above ground
Casing – the steel pipe lining your well bore
Pump – typically submersible and installed deep in the well
Pressure tank – controls water pressure inside your home or facility
Control systems – includes electrical switches and sometimes filtration units
Keep records of your well’s depth, age, yield, and pump installation. If Shoreline Well Drilling installed your system, we’ll have this information on file.
2. Inspect the Wellhead Seasonally
The wellhead is your first line of defense against contamination. Each season, walk the area around your well and look for:
✅ Cracks or damage in the casing
✅ A missing or loose well cap
✅ Surface water pooling nearby
✅ Evidence of animals or insects entering the well
Nova Scotia’s Well Construction Regulations require that wells be capped and sealed properly—a missing or damaged cap can lead to bacteria or debris entering the water.
Tip: The ground around your well should slope away from the casing. Shoreline Well Drilling always builds proper drainage into new installs, but erosion or landscaping can alter it over time.
3. Test Your Water Regularly
In Nova Scotia, private well owners are responsible for testing their own water. Even if your water looks clear and tastes fine, it can contain harmful bacteria or chemicals.
We recommend:
Bacteria test (coliform and E. coli) twice a year
Full chemistry panel (nitrate, metals, pH, etc.) every 2–3 years
If you live in the Annapolis Valley, where naturally occurring minerals like manganese and iron are common, testing is even more important.
Shoreline Well Drilling can help coordinate professional water testing and recommend treatment systems if needed.
4. Maintain the Pump and Pressure System
Your pump and pressure tank work together to supply steady, reliable water. Signs of trouble include:
Fluctuating or reduced water pressure
Pump cycling on and off too frequently
Noisy operation or clicking sounds
Regular inspection by a professional can prevent failures. In most cases, a well-maintained submersible pump can last 10–15 years, and pressure tanks about 5–10 years.
We recommend: A full system inspection every 3–5 years, or sooner if you notice symptoms.
5. Prevent Freezing in Winter
Nova Scotia winters can be harsh, and while most well components are deep enough to avoid freezing, some above-ground parts need protection:
Insulate any exposed piping in unheated areas
Keep wellheads clear of snow and ice buildup
Install frost-free hydrants for barns or outdoor use
Shoreline Well Drilling offers winterization advice and upgrades for year-round functionality—especially for farms and commercial clients who need water through every season.
6. Avoid Contamination Risks
Protecting your groundwater is just as important as maintaining equipment. Here’s how:
Keep fuel, chemicals, and manure at least 15–30 meters from the well
Never mix or rinse pesticides near your wellhead
Use backflow prevention devices on hoses and irrigation systems
Keep pets, livestock, and lawn runoff away from the well zone
Important: Nova Scotia regulations require a minimum setback of 15.2 meters from septic systems and at least 61 meters from landfills or hazardous sites. Shoreline Well Drilling always installs new wells with these clearances in mind—but ongoing land use around the well matters too.
7. Decommission Old or Unused Wells Properly
Abandoned or unused wells are a major contamination risk. If a property has an old dug or drilled well that is no longer in use, it must be:
Sealed and capped professionally
Reported to Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change
Removed from service in a way that protects groundwater
Shoreline Well Drilling is certified to decommission wells safely and submit all required documentation.
8. Keep Good Records
Maintain a folder with:
Well construction and depth information
Water test results
Service and maintenance dates
Pump model and installation details
This information is vital for resale, troubleshooting, or future repairs. If we’ve drilled your well, we can help retrieve any missing records from Nova Scotia’s Well Logs Database.
Why Maintenance Is Even More Critical for Farms and Businesses
If you’re running a commercial operation or agricultural business in Nova Scotia, your water supply supports more than just a household—it keeps your income flowing.
Shoreline Well Drilling has worked with fishing operations from Shelburne to Yarmouth, as well as farms, processing facilities, and rural businesses throughout the province. For our commercial clients, we offer:
High-capacity pump system maintenance
Irrigation flow checks
Emergency response for water outages
Scheduled inspection plans to avoid downtime
Peace of Mind Through Proper Coverage
When you choose Shoreline Well Drilling, you’re not just choosing expert workmanship—you’re also choosing a company that’s fully protected.
✅ We are properly insured with Commercial General Liability and Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage, so you can rest easy knowing your property and our crew are protected at every step.
Final Thoughts
A properly maintained well will deliver clean, reliable water for decades—but like any system, it needs attention and care. With just a few basic routines and the support of a qualified well drilling company, you can avoid problems before they start.
If you have questions about your well, need a system checkup, or want to upgrade aging components, contact Shoreline Well Drilling today. From Halifax to the Valley to Yarmouth, we’re here to help you keep the water flowing—safely, year-round.