Private wells construction and permits

Many New Brunswick families living in small towns and rural areas rely on private wells for their drinking water. These wells draw from natural underground reserves known as aquifers. Water quality is influenced by both naturally occurring minerals and human activities. Proper planning, construction and testing of wells are essential to ensure safe drinking water. 

New Brunswick’s Clean Water Act requires that all new well construction, deepening of existing wells and well decommissioning must be carried out by a licensed New Brunswick well contractor and licensed well driller.

Size: usually four to eight inches wide (most new wells are six inches).

Depth: domestic wells often range from 100 to 200 feet deep, but they can be over 1,000 feet deep.

Construction: a hole is drilled with large truck-mounted rigs using rotary or percussion drills, a casing (pipe) is installed to keep the walls from collapsing and to block surface contaminants from entering the well.  A screen at the bottom helps prevent sand or particulages from entering the well.

How it works: the well must reach bedrock fractures with groundwater and a pump near the bottom pushes water to the surface.

Size: very wide (24 to 48 inches).

Depth: usually only 10 to 30 feet deep.

Construction: made by digging with a shovel or backhoe, lined with stone, brick or modern casing to prevent collapse and covered with a cap for protection.

Note: as they are shallow, dug wells are at the highest risk of contamination and may be more suspectable to droughts.

Size: narrow (one to two inches wide).

Depth: usually less than 25 feet.

Construction: a small pipe with a screened tip is driven or jetted into sandy or gravelly ground with a shallow water table.

Note: these wells are very vulnerable to contamination because surface pollutants can easily reach the water table.

Size: varies depending on the aquifer and drilling method.

Depth: typically deep, reaching confined aquifers under pressure.

Construction: drilled into a confined aquifer where water is trapped between impermeable layers; casing and sealing are used to prevent contamination.

How it works: natural pressure from higher elevations pushes water upward; if pressure is high enough, water may flow to the surface without pumping (flowing artesian well).

Note: flowing wells must be controlled to prevent water waste; under the Water Well Regulation (Clean Water Act), approved devices are required to conserve water and protect the aquifer.

When having a new well drilled, its location must follow provincial regulations to minimize contamination risks. The Water Well Regulation under the Clean Water Act sets mandatory setback distances from structures and potential pollution sources. Only a New Brunswick licensed well contractor is permitted to drill a well.

A list of licensed well contractors and well drillers can be found online.

Contractors offering water well construction and development services in New Brunswick must obtain a Water Well Contractor Permit annually.

Eligibility: water well contractors

Fee: $300.00 (plus HST)

More information: [email protected]

Individuals who operate water well drilling machinery for contractors must also hold an annual Water well driller permit.

Eligibility: drillers employed by licensed contractors

Fee: $100.00 (plus HST)

More information: [email protected]

1. The contractor attaches a permanent well identification tag.
2. The well owner receives a well water testing voucher for a mandatory water quality test.
3. Both the well owner and the department receive a copy of the well log. 

Testing requirement: under the Potable Water Regulation – Clean Water Act, when a water well is drilled, deepened or repaired, the homeowner receives a well water testing voucher from the well contractor. The voucher covers the cost of inorganic and microbiological analysis.  Homeowners who have received a well water testing voucher is strongly encouraged to test the quality of their water within twelve months of the voucher being issued. Additionally, the Department of Health recommends private wells be re-tested twice per year (spring and fall) for bacteria (total coliforms and E.coli) and once every two years for inorganic compounds.