Wells as Domestic Water Source

Wells bring up the real pioneer vibe for so many people. That's because wells have always been a good, practical way to get fresh water to a home or property. Many recreational developments will put in wells of some sort, often shared between two or more properties. Older properties, especially on the islands or further outside of residential centres, will often have a well as their main water source. (Newer properties are as likely to have rain water collection or spring water collection into a cistern system.) 

Wells generally come in two forms - dug wells and drilled wells. A dug well does not mean necessarily dug by hand, a bucket auger may be used for deeper wells. You will often hear these types of wells referred to as shallow or deep dug wells, meaning the general depth of the well. Drilled wells are just as they sound, drilled by a machine to reach water.

The level of the underground water aquifer, the type of ground material, and the cost of the project all help determine what type of well will be installed. In BC a well should be installed by a qualified well pump installer, and there are specific rules that should be followed during installation. These rules are set out in the Ground Water Protection Regulations of BC.

Well documentation is something that is very useful to have when it comes to selling a property - well logs, installation, etc - so keeping good records if your property has a well will definitely be of benefit. If it is a property we are listing we will research any suspected well for location, well id tags, well logs, etc.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Real Estate and Service Providers

Working in residential real estate you get to know the local building inspectors, city hall staff, mortgage brokers and insurance brokers through helping your clients with purchasing and selling properties. These are the service provides and relationships most experienced agents will nurture over the years, and BC Oceanfront is no exception.

Working in niche real estate such as remote, recreational and resort property sales however, there are other service providers that we also get to know.

1. Water taxis. When trailering a boat just doesn't fit in the schedule, or there are other properties to be viewed on the way, or the boat is on the other side of the island, sometimes taking a water taxi is a better way to get to a property. And certainly for other agents and for prospective buyers, water taxis are sometimes the best option. 

2. Float planes. When boating somewhere will take too long, or the property is simply more easily accessed from the air, chartering a flight with a float plane is the way to go. At one point Ed did own a float plane, but in recent years BCO has worked with local charter companies for flights when needed.

3. Well Diggers. Can a well be dug or drilled? Has one been dug or drilled that information is needed for? Well diggers are the people you need to talk to.

4. Waste Water Practitioners. Septic systems and grey water systems are a big deal on properties outside of service areas, and knowing who the experts are helps.

5. Surveyors. Sometimes property boundaries haven't been checked in over 50 years, or sometimes there are questions about easements or shared areas. If this is important to a buyer, then a surveyor is needed. 

There are more service providers we use on occasion, but these are some of the most important. Because we work in this type of real estate regularly, we know who to call and what information to ask for, allowing us to be of assistance to our clients and to market our listings fully.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Turning on the Tap

When you live in a city or town, domestic water is generally not thought about much, unless water restrictions are enacted. However, for those who live outside the boundaries of cities and towns, domestic water is an important issue when setting up a property. Where will the water come from? How will it be used? How much will be needed? All of these questions should be answered when considering a remote or rural property. If the property already has a home in place, prospective buyers should be asking the same questions about any water system in place.

Domestic water outside of city water systems generally comes from three sources: groundwater through wells; surface water through springs, creeks or rivers; and rain water. (There are other options, such as desalination plants if one lives on the ocean or water delivery which many  road-access island communities use in the dry summers when wells and cisterns are empty.) 

                                       

The Water Act of BC defines what licencing is required and what that licence entitles one to. A licence will define where the water may be taken from, how much water will be taken and what the water will be used for. 

 

If the property has an existing well, it may be possible to look up information. The province does track wells installed by well drillers, however this database was voluntary before 2016. This is something we regularly look up for our remote and recreational listings.

 

Rain water collection is commonly done through pipes/gutters that drain into a holding tank (sometimes called a cistern) which can be either above or below ground. The holding tank then has pipes that direct the water to where it is needed, either by gravity-feed or through a pump system.

 

Many recreational and remote property owners use tanks to store additional water no matter what water source is used. This is especially useful on the west coast, where we tend to have plenty of water in the wet winter months and less in the summer months when the properties are seeing heavier use. Other properties will use a hybrid system, collecting rainwater for garden use for example, while using well water for inside the residence.

 

Knowing where the water is coming from, or what the options are to get water, makes for good peace of mind when considering an unconventional property.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

 

What to know about Wells

Dealing with properties outside of an urban centre brings up many questions. One of the big ones we ask/get asked is where does the water come from? The answer can vary from cistern collection (rain water or spring water), to a water licence on a local creek, to a well.

Wells generally come in two forms - dug wells and drilled wells. A dug well does not mean necessarily dug by hand, a bucket auger may be used for deeper wells. You will often hear Ed or Shelley reference these types of wells as shallow or deep dug wells, meaning of course the depth of the well. Drilled wells are just as they sound, drilled by a machine to reach water.

The level of the underground water aquifer, the type of ground material, and the cost of the project all help determine what type of well will be installed. In BC a well should be installed by a qualified well pump installer, and there are specific rules that should be followed during installation. These rules are set out in the Ground Water Protection Regulations of BC.

Well documentation is something that is very useful to have when it comes to selling a property - well logs, installation, etc - so keeping good records if your property has a well will definitely be of benefit.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Where Does the Water Come From?

For those living in a city or other residential area, domestic water is generally taken for granted unless water restrictions are enacted. Water simply comes when you turn on the tap, and if it doesn’t you call your city or municipality and find out why.

For those who live outside the boundaries of cities and towns, domestic water can be one of the most important issues when establishing a home. Where will it come from? How will it be used? How much will be needed? All of these questions should be answered when considering a home on a remote or rural property. If the property already has a home in place, prospective buyers should be asking the same questions about any water system in place.

Domestic water outside of city water systems generally comes from three sources: groundwater through wells; surface water through springs, creeks or rivers; and rain water. (There are other options, such as desalination plants if one lives on the ocean or water delivery which many  road-access island communities use in the dry summers when wells and cisterns are empty.) Of these three, it is currently the use of surface water that requires a licence to access in BC.

The Water Act of BC defines what licencing is required and what that licence entitles one to. A licence will define where the water may be taken from, how much water will be taken and what the water will be used for. Information on domestic freshwater licences can be found here:  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/water-licensing-rights/water-licences-approvals

If the property has an existing well, it may be possible to look up information. The province does track wells installed by well drillers, however this database was voluntary before 2016. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/groundwater-wells-aquifers/groundwater-wells/information-for-property-owners/well-records-registration

Rain water collection is commonly done in a cistern, which can be either above or below ground. They are often hidden underneath a deck.

Many recreational and remote property owners use tanks to store additional water. This is especially useful on the west coast, where we tend to have plenty of water in the wet winter months and less in the summer months when the properties are seeing heavier use.

Knowing where the water is coming from, or what the options are to get water, makes for good peace of mind when considering an unconventional property.

It’s a Coastal Lifestyle … Live It!

Drinking Water on a Remote Property

For those living in a city or other residential area, domestic water is only really thought about when water restrictions are enacted. Otherwise it is hard to really think about where water comes from, when it is readily available at the turn of a tap.

For those who live outside the boundaries of cities and towns, domestic water can be one of the most important issues when establishing a home. Where will it come from? How will it be used? How much will be needed? All of these questions should be answered when considering a home on a remote or rural property. If the property already has a home in place, prospective buyers should be asking the same questions.

Domestic water outside of city water systems generally comes from three sources: groundwater through wells; surface water through springs, creeks or rivers; and rain water. (There are other options, such as desalination plants if one lives on the ocean or water delivery which many island communities use in the dry summers when wells and cisterns are empty.) Of these three, it is currently the use of surface water that requires a licence to access in BC.

The Water Act of BC defines what licencing is required and what that licence entitles one to. A licence will define where the water may be taken from, how much water will be taken and what the water will be used for.Information on applying for a domestic freshwater licence can be found here: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/water_rights/licence_application/index.html

The BC Government is in the process of evaluating the Water Act and changing the laws to reflect licencing for non-domestic ground water usage. This is expected to become law early this year, and more on that can be found here:  http://engage.gov.bc.ca/watersustainabilityact/files/2015/07/LicensingGroundwaterUse-Web-Copy.pdf

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Domestic Water Sources - Wells and Cisterns

Dealing with recreational and rural properties means looking at a lot of extra details. One of the big ones we ask/get asked is where does the water come from? The answer can vary from rain water collection, to a water licence on a local creek, to a well.

Wells generally come in two forms - dug wells and drilled wells. A dug well does not mean necessarily dug by hand, a bucket auger may be used for deeper wells. You will often hear Ed or Shelley reference these types of wells as shallow or deep dug wells, meaning  the depth of the well. Drilled wells are just as they sound, drilled by a machine to reach water.

The level of the underground water aquifer, the type of ground material, and the cost of the project all help determine what type of well will be installed. In BC a well should be installed by a qualified well pump installer, and there are specific rules that should be followed during installation. These rules are set out in the Ground Water Protection Regulations of BC.

Rain water collection can be as simply as a barrel to collect rain water to as complex as a cistern system that collects rain water from gutters and stores it in a large holding tank. These holdings tanks can be away from the main property and feed water through a pipe system, or they can be under a deck or patio connected to the house. Depending on demand a good winter of rain can supply enough water to meet the needs of a recreational property, while more full time properties (such as those on some of the Gulf Islands) may purchase water to refill the cistern in a dry summer.

Water licences are regulated by the Province. More information on this water source can be found in this blog post.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Summer Days on the Coast

The west coast of Canada has a reputation when it comes to our climate - mild but wet is the main impression people have. There is a lot of truth in that, for a good part of the year temperatures are mild and it does rain a fair bit. This is a temperate rain forest, after all.

But late spring and into summer, when all is the way it should be, the coast becomes a place of wonder. Long, warm days (average of 20C/68F but can get up to 30C/86F) and dry skies for weeks on end can be the norm. The lakes and beaches become magnets for people looking to soak up some Vitamin D and splash in the water.

One of the nice things about the coast is that, aside from mosquitos in the evenings, there are no where near the bugs that people inland experience in the summer. So one can enjoy the outdoors without constantly flapping at no-see-ums and flies.

 

The warm dry spells do bring their own issues. Water becomes a concern, as most of communities rely on local lakes and rivers that fill up in the wet winters for their domestic water source. Even those who aren't hooked up to municipal water services start to conserve water, as they watch well levels drop or cisterns run dry, requiring purchases of water. It is generally standard procedure in the summers, at least on the island, that most communities are on water use restrictions. These often are implemented in late May, and address lawn watering, etc. If there is an extended dry spell then further restrictions may be put in place to protect the water resources for fire fighting and municipal use.

Fire bans are another common response to the warm, dry weather. Being surrounded by forest as we are on the coast, dry ground is a concern. Generally a stretch of hot weather will mean the wildfire centre will issue bans on campfires and backyard burning. This can happen at any time in the summer, some years it's not until August but this year a ban was issued today. The only sections where a ban doesn't get enforced is along what is known as the "fog line" along the west and north coasts of Vancouver Island and through Haida Gwaii, which are generally damp with ocean fog even in the summers.

The coast is fortunate to have four distinct seasons, each with its own magic and rhythm. Summer can be spectacular - you really don't want to miss it.

 

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Water Issues: Wells

Dealing with properties outside of an urban centre brings up many questions. One of the big ones we ask/get asked is where does the water come from? The answer can vary from cistern collection, to a water licence on a local creek, to a well.

Wells generally come in two forms - dug wells and drilled wells. A dug well does not mean necessarily dug by hand, a bucket auger may be used for deeper wells. You will often hear Ed or Shelley reference these types of wells as shallow or deep dug wells, meaning of course the depth of the well. Drilled wells are just as they sound, drilled by a machine to reach water.

The level of the underground water aquifer, the type of ground material, and the cost of the project all help determine what type of well will be installed. In BC a well should be installed by a qualified well pump installer, and there are specific rules that should be followed during installation. These rules are set out in the Ground Water Protection Regulations of BC.

Well documentation is something that is very useful to have when it comes to selling a property - well logs, installation, etc - so keep good records if your property has a well!

Just another part of the BCO office workings.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!