Residential Well Decommissioning Grant

Abandoned or unused water wells raise health, safety and environmental concerns. They can serve as a route for contaminating groundwater. Contaminated surface water, agricultural runoff and effluent from private sewage disposal systems can enter the groundwater through abandoned wells and cause pollution of other wells in the area used for drinking water. Preventing Physical Accidents: abandoned wells can be a hazard, especially in areas with children or livestock. Proper abandonment ensures these accidents don’t occur.

To help private property owners decommission abandoned or unused wells, the City of Hamilton offers a grant program to residents for the plugging and sealing of abandoned or unused water wells. The grant covers:

• 100% of the cost up to $1000 per well
• Limit of 2 wells per property
• Decommissioning work must be completed by a licensed well contractor as per O. Reg 903

The application form must be submitted and approved before beginning any work.

Application Process

• The landowner must submit the Residential Well Decommissioning Grant Application
• City of Hamilton may coordinate with respective Conservation Authority in order to schedule an inspection of the well(s) before decommissioning
• The landowner must hire a licensed well contractor to complete well decommissioning (Class 1 for all wells or Class 2 for dug or bored wells) - Confirm the contractor's license.
• Once the work is complete, the following documents need to be provided to receive the grant.
  • The water well decommissioning record (which is also submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change)
  • Paid receipts
  • The documents can be emailed to [email protected] or sent by mail to Source Water Protection, Hamilton Water, 100 King Street West, Level 9, Hamilton, ON, L8P 1A2
• Upon receiving the documentation City of Hamilton staff will confirm the decommissioning of the well(s) according to O. Reg 903 as well as the grant eligibility.

The program runs on a first come, first serve basis, and funds are limited. Please allow six to eight weeks for processing of payment.