Free private well water testing

Why should you test your well water?

Spring is a great time of year to test your well water. Snowmelt and spring showers can contaminate your well if the well is not properly maintained.

Well water can contain harmful bacteria that causes stomach cramps, diarrhea and other health concerns. Private well owners are encouraged to get their water tested every spring, summer and fall, even if it looks, tastes and smells fine. 

Public Health Ontario Laboratories test for the indicators of bacterial contamination (coliforms and E. coli). 

Whether your test results are positive or negative, understand that the sample you collected is just a "snapshot" of your well's water quality. The more samples you have tested, the more confident you can be about the quality of the water you are drinking.

In addition to regularly testing well water, owners should inspect their well at least once a year to make sure it is free from damage and in good working condition. If you need more information on private wells, you can download the Private Well Water Manual from the Ottawa Public Health website.

Visit OttawaPublicHealth.ca/WellWaterTest for a list of sample bottle pick-up and water sample drop-off locations.