Well decommissioning and abandonment in Canada

A well that is no longer used is not a neutral hole in the ground. Left open, it can carry surface contamination into the aquifer your community, farm or operation depends on. Decommissioning is the process of closing it permanently: sealing the well, restoring the site, and recording what was done. This guide explains what that involves and how to plan it, province by province.

This page is one of the three guides on Commercial Well Service, alongside commercial well inspection and well water testing. Together they cover the life of a commercial water well.

Why decommissioning matters

An unused well is a direct route between the surface and groundwater. If the casing is damaged, the well is uncapped, or it simply sits open, runoff, spills and surface water can move down the well and into the aquifer. A properly decommissioned well removes that pathway. For an operator, closing an old well is both environmental protection and good asset management: it removes a liability and leaves a clean, documented site.

When a well needs to be decommissioned

The trigger is usually that the well will not be used again. That includes a well replaced by a new one, a well that no longer produces usable water, a well that fails an inspection, and a well left behind when land use changes. Many jurisdictions expect an unused well to be closed rather than left standing, so it is worth checking the timeline that applies to you rather than waiting until a sale or an inspection forces the issue.

How the work is generally done

While the detail depends on the well and the province, decommissioning normally follows a similar shape. The contractor assesses the well and its construction, confirms permits and notification, removes or clears equipment that is no longer needed, fills and seals the well to prevent movement of water between layers, restores the surface, and documents the closure. The sealing method and materials depend on the well type and on the provincial standard.

Because those standards are local, this site does not quote a single method or depth. Ask your contractor and the provincial authority what applies to your well.

Records and reporting

Closure should leave a record. Keep the contractor's documentation, any permit or filing, the method used, and the date. Some provinces maintain public well records and expect the closure to be reflected there; the Ontario well records system is one example. Good records protect the owner if the property changes hands and help the next operator understand what is underground.

Planning the work

• Confirm whether the well must be decommissioned under your provincial or territorial rules, and by when.
• Identify any permits, notifications or fees the authority requires.
• Use a qualified well contractor experienced in commercial and agricultural wells.
• Ask how the closure will be documented, and keep those records with the property.
• If other wells remain in use, review them at the same time so one closure does not leave another problem behind.

Find a contractor

Decommissioning should be done by a qualified contractor familiar with your province's rules. The directory is being built; browse the area you operate in, and submit a business to be listed when it opens.

General information only — not legal, engineering or regulatory advice. Confirm decommissioning requirements with the authority in your province or territory and a qualified contractor.