The Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards are hosting a workshop on how to properly decommission old abandoned wells.

If not done properly it can result in a decrease in water quality of the aquifer where current wells are operating and contaminating that water supply.

Kevin Steinley with the Swift Current Creek Watershed Stewards talks about why it’s important to make sure the wells are decommissioned properly.

"We can see a decrease in the water quality or contamination of the aquifer," Steinley said. "Through debris and contaminants getting into these abandoned wells, going down the wells and into the aquifer and then back up wells that aren't operating, the water in those operating wells can be contaminated."

Steinley added that most of these wells are on abandoned farm sites.

"We see as farms are getting bigger and farm sites are becoming abandoned," he said. "We're seeing an increase in the number of wells that need decommissioning, as well we are seeing a lot of new wells being dug as the old ones are no longer have the quality of water or quantity that is now needed."

A workshop on Decommissioning Wells is set to go on Thursday, October 12th at 1:00 pm.

Interested participants are asked to pre-register by the end of Friday by calling Kevin at 306-770-4607.