Grant Programs

Well Decommissioning Grant Program

Well Decommissioning

Abandoned or unused water wells pose a significant risk to groundwater quality. These wells can allow surface contaminants to travel directly into the water table, threatening the safety of local water supplies. Although the exact number is unknown, it is estimated that thousands of such wells exist within the NPCA watershed. Under provincial regulations, property owners are legally required to decommission abandoned wells by properly plugging and sealing them. However, the cost of this process can be a financial burden. To support residents in meeting this requirement, the NPCA offers the Water Well Decommissioning Grant Program. This program provides funding assistance of up to $2,000 per well, with a limit of two wells per property. Before submitting an application, residents must review the Terms and Conditions for Funding Assistance and the Project Eligibility Criteria. This program has a time and funding limit and is offered on a first-come, first serve basis. All applications are reviewed individually and processed in the order they are received.

Program Eligibility

This program is not intended for:

  • Land owned or acquired by a contracting company looking to build or develop on the existing property (land developers).
  • Unused wells on properties that are not considered private residential or farming properties.
  • Federal, provincial, or municipal-owned government lands.
  • These types of wells do not qualify for the program:
  • Oil wells, gas wells and cistern are not eligible under this program. Please contact the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources at 1-519-873-4634 or gasandoilwells@ontario.ca for information regarding oil and gas well decommissioning.

To qualify for program funding the following criteria must be met:

  • You must have a drilled or dug well on your property that is old and no longer used.
  • Your well (or wells) must be located within existing private residential or farming properties.
  • Grants are available to qualifying landowners with lands located within the NPCA jurisdiction.
  • All proposals must be reviewed and approved by NPCA staff. If a project is located within the City of Hamilton and it will also need approval from the City of Hamilton.
  • Applicants must apply and be approved prior to initiating their project. Projects already underway or completed without NPCA approval may not be eligible.
  • The proposed work must be completed by a water well contractor licensed by the Ontario Ministry Environment Conservation and Parks. (MECP) as set out in Ontario Regulation 903. 
  • The proposed work must comply with MOE procedures for plugging or abandoning water wells according to Ontario Regulation 903.
  • Details of the procedure must be documented on the water well decommissioning record and submitted to the MECP by the hired water well contractor upon completion.
  • A copy of the MECP water well decommissioning record must also be submitted to the NPCA by the landowner or the hired water well contractor upon completion

Eligible Costs:

  • Costs associated with water well decommissioning completed by a licensed contractor and/or licensed well technician, subject to approval by the NPCA and, for projects within the City of Hamilton, approval by the City.
  • Grant will cover well decommissioning costs to a maximum of $ 2,000 per well (limit of 2 wells per property). This is a reimbursement program; the landowner will pay the full cost to the contractor, and will be reimbursed up-to $2000 of the total project cost after all receipts, and water well decommissioning record(s) are submitted to the NPCA.
  • All receipts (marked paid in-full) and a copy of MECP water well decommissioning record(s) are submitted to the NPCA within one month after project completion.
  • Please allow six to eight weeks for processing of payment.
  • This program has a time and funding limit and is offered on a first-come, first serve basis.

Click here to Apply

Please contact the NPCA to verify program eligibility and to answer any questions/concerns you may have about the program and/or the application process. This is a voluntary program and all calls are confidential.