A drilled well is used when the water source is greater than 15 metres deep. It is the safest source of water (although it may contain natural chemicals) especially if it is into a confined aquifer (underneath a protective layer of clay, till, or rock).

A driven well is used when the water source is between 6 metres (20 feet) and 15 metres (50 feet) deep. A steel pipe is driven into the ground and a pump is attached to the top. A driven well is more vulnerable to contamination than a drilled well, but generally better than a dug well.

A dug well is used if the water source is less than 6 - 7.5 metres (20 - 25 feet) deep. A backhoe excavator is used to establish the pit. These wells are at the greatest risk of contamination from surrounding land uses. They are also more likely to seasonally run dry in the summer. Water from dug wells should be disinfected before comsumption and tested more frequently, especially for coliform bacteria and nitrates.

Well construction is regulated by the Groundwater Protection Regulation.