| #Q001 | corrective_action | operational | mandatory | Retest water well upon complaint | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If a landowner/occupant perceives a change in well water quantity or quality after CBM development, then CBM developers must retest the water well. | Perceived change in well water quantity or quality after CBM development | high |
| #Q002 | design | operational | recommended | Retesting program design | drinking water, agricultural water, other | The retesting program should be designed to address the landowner/occupant's concerns. | When retesting a water well due to a complaint | high |
| #Q003 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Complaint registration prior to retesting | drinking water, agricultural water, other | The landowner/occupant must register his/her complaint with AENV at 1800-222-6514 prior to retesting. | Prior to retesting due to perceived changes in water well | high |
| #Q004 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Mandatory baseline water-well testing within 600m | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Coalbed Methane (CBM) developers must test all active water wells either flowing or equipped with a pump, and observation wells in the provincial Groundwater Observation Network 3 within a minimum 600 metre radius of a proposed CBM well prior to drilling a new CBM well or re-completing an existing well for CBM production where the completion will be at a depth above the Base of Groundwater Protection. | Prior to drilling a new CBM well or re-completing an existing well for CBM production where the completion will be at a depth above the Base of Groundwater Protection | high |
| #Q005 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Expanded baseline water-well testing beyond 600m | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If no water wells are found within the 600 metre radius, testing must be conducted at the nearest water well within a 600-800 meter radius. | If no water wells are found within the 600 metre radius | high |
| #Q006 | operational | operational | mandatory | Compliance with testing procedures | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Testing procedures must comply with the requirements in Attachment A. | | high |
| #Q007 | administrative | operational | mandatory | Landowner permission for testing | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Landowner/occupant's permission must be obtained prior to testing. | | high |
| #Q008 | administrative | reporting | mandatory | Written confirmation of testing refusal | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If a landowner/occupant does not want his/her water well tested, the company must obtain written confirmation from the landowner/occupant that testing is not required. | If landowner/occupant does not want the water well tested | high |
| #Q009 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Documentation procedure when written refusal is denied | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If written confirmation is refused, a company representative must diarize landowner/occupant's refusal and the CBM developer must deliver to the landowner/occupant, and retain a copy of, a notice describing this protocol. | If written confirmation of refusal to test is refused by landowner | high |
| #Q010 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Submission of testing data to AENV | drinking water, agricultural water, other | CBM developers are responsible for the water-well testing, and for submission of all testing data and analyses to AENV within 2 months of sampling. | | high |
| #Q011 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Provision of test copies to AENV and landowner | drinking water, agricultural water, other | CBM developers must provide AENV and the landowner/occupant with copies of all tests and analysis within 2 months of testing. | | high |
| #Q012 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Notification of delay in providing test info | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If the information cannot be provided within 2 months, the CBM developer must advise the landowner/occupant of the reason for the delay. | If testing information cannot be provided within 2 months | high |
| #Q013 | operational | operational | mandatory | Professional direction requirement | drinking water, agricultural water, other | This program must be carried out under the direction of a professional registered with APEGGA. | | high |
| #Q014 | reporting | reporting | recommended | Recording of well information prior to testing | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Available information regarding the age, depth, completion, well use, expected yield, and condition of the water well should be recorded prior to commencement of any testing. | Prior to commencement of testing | high |
| #Q015 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Documentation for methodology changes | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If testing or sampling methodology differs from this protocol, due to case-specific circumstances, appropriate supporting documentation justifying the change(s) must be submitted to Alberta Environment with the test results. | If testing or sampling methodology differs from the standard protocol | high |
| #Q016 | operational | operational | mandatory | Selection of testing equipment and methods | drinking water, agricultural water, other | All monitoring, purging and sampling methods, as well as testing equipment must be selected based on the parameters being monitored, and the expected yield of the water well being tested. | | high |
| #Q017 | operational | operational | mandatory | Equipment cleaning requirement | drinking water, agricultural water, other | All equipment (e.g. water level sounder, pump, tubing, etc.) must be cleaned to prevent introducing contaminants into the well. | | high |
| #Q018 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Retention of testing and sampling data | drinking water, agricultural water, other | CBM developers must also retain a copy of all testing and sampling data, in addition to any supporting documentation to address future concerns. | | high |
| #Q019 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Yield test execution | drinking water, agricultural water, other | A yield test must be performed to determine the capacity of the well. | | high |
| #Q020 | operational | operational | mandatory | Water discharge during yield test | drinking water, agricultural water, other | During the test, water must be discharged from the well without going through the pressure system unless there is no practical alternative possible. | During yield test | high |
| #Q021 | operational | operational | recommended | Water usage if test run through pressure system | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If the test is run through the pressure system, water should not be used during the test. | If the test is run through the pressure system | high |
| #Q022 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Measure non-pumping water level | drinking water, agricultural water, other | 1. Measure the non-pumping water level (npwl) prior to the start of the test. This level should be recorded after the water level in the well has been allowed to fully recover, and before the pump is turned on. | Prior to the start of the yield test | high |
| #Q023 | operational | operational | mandatory | Determine proper pumping rate | drinking water, agricultural water, other | 2. The pumping rate for the yield test must reflect the capability of the well without drawing the water level down to the pump intake too quickly. | During yield test setup | high |
| #Q024 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Conduct constant rate pumping | drinking water, agricultural water, other | 4. Pump the well at a constant rate (+/- 5%) for two hours and measure the drawdown of the water level at the following time intervals: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 and 120 minutes. | During the yield test | high |
| #Q025 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Measure water level recovery | drinking water, agricultural water, other | 5. After pumping is completed, measure the recovery of the water level at the same time intervals as described for the pumping portion of the test, or until the water level recovers to at least 90% of the non-pumping water level. | After pumping is completed | high |
| #Q026 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Record yield test information | drinking water, agricultural water, other | 6. Record the following information upon completion of the yield test: a. Name, address, and qualification of person conducting the test b. Date and time of test c. Details of well construction such as age, diameter, total depth, screen interval, well ID number d. Description of test equipment used e. Non-pumping, static water level f. Pumping rate during test g. Reference point from where water level measurements were taken (e.g. from top of casing (TOC) and distance from TOC to ground level) h. Drawdown and recovery measurements of the water level i. Any general observations of the water being discharged during the test, such as the presence of silt, colour, odour, sheen or gas. | Upon completion of the yield test | high |
| #Q027 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Collection of water quality data | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Water quality data is to be collected to evaluate the water quality prior to the CBM drilling and operation. | Prior to CBM drilling and operation | high |
| #Q028 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Sample collection point | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If possible water and gas samples must be collected at a location prior to the pressure system. | If possible | high |
| #Q029 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Record sampling point | drinking water, agricultural water, other | The sampling point must be recorded. | | high |
| #Q030 | operational | operational | mandatory | Sample preservation and filtration | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Samples must be preserved and filtered as required. | | high |
| #Q031 | operational | operational | mandatory | Sample storage and transportation | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Water samples must be stored at 4 ° C, gas samples must be stored and transported to an accredited laboratory according to laboratory specifications within appropriate sample holding times. | | high |
| #Q032 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Chain of custody maintenance | drinking water, agricultural water, other | A documented chain of custody must be maintained for all samples. | | high |
| #Q033 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Timing of water quality sampling | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Water quality samples must be collected when the field parameters have stabilized, indicating the well is producing formation water. | | high |
| #Q034 | operational | operational | mandatory | Laboratory accreditation | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Water and gas samples collected from water wells must be delivered to a laboratory accredited for the following analyses: | | high |
| #Q035 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Routine Potability Parameter Testing | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Analysis for common water quality parameters, including major ionic constituents and water quality standards, which must include the following parameters: Bicarbonate (HCO3), Nitrite + Nitrate (NO2 + NO3), Calcium (Ca), pH, Carbonate (CO3), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl), Sodium (Na), Fluoride (Fl), Sulphate (SO4), Iron (Fe) - Dissolved & Total*, Total Dissolved Solids, Magnesium (Mg), Total Alkalinity, Manganese (Mn)*, Total Hardness | | high |
| #Q036 | monitoring | health | mandatory | Bacteriological Analysis Parameter Testing | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Analysis for aesthetic and pathogenic bacteriological constituents present in the water supply, which must include the following parameters: Iron bacteria, Sulphate-reducing bacteria, Total and fecal coliform bacteria | | high |
| #Q037 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Use of flow-through cell for gas evaluation | drinking water, agricultural water, other | A flow-through cell must be used to evaluate the presence or absence of gas during the yield test. | During the yield test | high |
| #Q038 | prohibition | operational | mandatory | Prohibition of heating water for gas determination | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Water must not be heated in the determination of the presence of gas, nor to obtain gas samples. | In determination of presence of gas or to obtain samples | high |
| #Q039 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Gas sampling for compositional analysis | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If free gas is present, gas samples must be collected and delivered to a laboratory accredited for compositional analysis. | If free gas is present | high |
| #Q040 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Gas and water sampling for isotopic analysis | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Gas and water samples must be collected from a representative number of wells with free gas and submitted for isotopic analyses. | From a representative number of wells with free gas | high |
| #Q041 | reporting | reporting | mandatory | Recording gas volume | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Volume of gas per flow-through volume of water must be recorded. | | high |
| #Q042 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Action for free gas discovery post-drilling | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If free gas becomes present or apparent after offset energy drilling, a sample of the gas must be collected and delivered to a laboratory that is accredited for the analysis, and the situation must be identified to the appropriate AENV Regional Office. | If free gas becomes present or apparent after offset energy drilling | high |
| #Q043 | administrative | reporting | guideline | Testing exemption for recent compliant tests | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If the water well has been tested within the previous two years, and if the landowner/occupant or AENV can provide a copy of the test to the CBM company representative, and the testing conforms to the described protocols in Attachment A, testing is not required unless requested by the landowner. | Prior test exists within two years and conforms to protocol | high |
| #Q044 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Identification of site-specific conditions for extended testing | drinking water, agricultural water, other | AENV and the EUB expect industry to identify those situations where unique geological or topographical conditions, or landowner concern warrant testing at greater distances or more than one well in the 600-800 metre radius. | Presence of unique geological/topographical conditions or landowner concern | high |
| #Q045 | operational | operational | recommended | Disconnection of pump from distribution system | drinking water, agricultural water, other | The pump should be disconnected from the distribution system while conducting the yield test, to ensure the pumping rate is held constant during the test and to prevent any unwanted fluctuations in the drawdown of the water in the well. | During yield test execution | high |
| #Q046 | monitoring | operational | mandatory | Total depth measurement for large-diameter wells | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If testing a large-diameter bored or dug well, also measure the total depth of the well. | Testing a large-diameter bored or dug well | high |
| #Q047 | operational | operational | mandatory | Pumping rate adjustment for unsustainable yield | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If pumping cannot be sustained, provide an explanation, allow the water level to recover to the non-pumping level and repeat the test at a lower pumping rate. | Pumping cannot be sustained during yield test | high |
| #Q048 | operational | operational | mandatory | Drawdown management for large-diameter wells | drinking water, agricultural water, other | If testing a large diameter bored or dug well, carefully monitor the drawdown of the water level during pumping to ensure it is not drawn down so far as to leave the landowner with insufficient water. | Testing a large-diameter bored or dug well | high |
| #Q049 | operational | operational | guidance | Modifications to water quantity testing for sensitive wells | drinking water, agricultural water, other | Modifications to the recommended water quantity testing procedures may be warranted in older or small diameter wells to avoid damage to the water well. | Older or small diameter wells | high |