Amethyst Well Drilling Ltd. Fined $2,500 Plus A Court Order For Restitution Of $6,619 For An Abandoned Well Violation
THUNDER BAY– On July 29, 2011, Amethyst Well Drilling Ltd. pleaded guilty to one violation under the Ontario Water Resources Act for failing to ensure that when abandoning a well, the well, including any annular space, is plugged to prevent any movement of water.
The Court heard that the company constructs potable water wells. The property owner of a residence in the Township of Neebing hired the company to construct a well on the property. In 2009, the property owner contacted the ministry with a complaint regarding the construction of his well since the water was not clear and remained cloudy in appearance. It was discovered that in January 2008, the owner of the company had attended the site and discovered the casing was not in the bedrock. In May 2008, he returned to try to repair the well, but the well had collapsed. The well was not sealed from the bottom as required. A new well was drilled nearby on the north side of the owner’s driveway. The second well was drilled in October 2008 and in the process of developing the well, the water pumped remained very turbid, and a sink-hole appeared where the first well had been drilled.
The company was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch. The company was fined $2,500 plus a victim fine surcharge and was given 12 months to pay the fine. A court order was also issued ordering the company to pay restitution in the amount of $6,619 by September 30, 2011, for reasonable expenses incurred by the property owner, due to the damage to his property.
No comments:
Post a Comment