Almost half the population of Wellington and Dufferin counties gets their drinking water from private wells. To help ensure water is safe, the Ontario Ministry of Health offers bacteriological water-quality testing.

Public Health recommends that you test your well water for bacteria at least three times a year. You will need to test more often if the water smells or tastes unusual, and if environmental conditions change dramatically.

Water bottle pick up
You can pick up an empty water bottle and attached form from WDG Public Health or municipal offices.

Sample testing
Public Health offices send samples to the Ontario Ministry of Health Public Health Laboratory for testing.

The lab will not test the water if samples are:

• Older than 24 hours
• Frozen
• Taken from springs, ponds, lakes, rivers, or any other unprotected source (unless treated for drinking purposes)
• Not properly labelled

Be sure to fully complete the form that accompanies the bottle. If information is missing in the shaded areas, your water sample will not be tested. Samples can be dropped off at any public health office in Ontario.

WDG Public Health offices (bottle pick up and sample drop off)

Samples are tested for total coliforms and E.coli.  The results are usually available within 48 hours. Public health inspectors can help you interpret the results of your water test.

If you need further testing (e.g. for nitrates, fluoride, metals, chemicals), you must contact a private laboratory. Consult the yellow pages of your local phone book or check out the list of accredited laboratories.

For more information ...

• Common Drinking Water Quality Complaints
• Household Drinking Water Disinfection Devices
• Household Drinking Water Filtration Devices
• Drinking Water Safely: Why Test Your Well
• Drinking Water and Nitrates
• Drinking Water and Fluoride
• Ministry of the Environment
• Canadian Water Quality Association