As temperatures rise and rainfall fluctuates, public health officials are reminding residents to test their private well water, especially with nearly half of Midwestern Ontario's population relying on wells for drinking water.
The Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) Public Health unit is encouraging all private well owners to test their water at least three times a year, with spring and summer being key times to ensure safety. Even if water appears clean and tastes normal, it may still contain harmful bacteria like E. coli or total coliforms that pose serious health risks.
Testing is free, simple, and widely accessible. Public Health Ontario provides bacterial water-quality testing for private wells and will even help interpret the results. In cases where contamination is found, guidance is available on disinfection, filtration, and long-term well maintenance.
In Wellington and surrounding areas, residents can pick up water testing kits from several convenient locations, including public health offices in Guelph, Fergus, and Orangeville; the Mel Lloyd Centre in Shelburne; hospitals in Palmerston and Mount Forest; and the Township of Erin office in Hillsburgh. Samples must be dropped off during specific morning hours, Monday to Friday, to ensure timely delivery to the Public Health Ontario lab in Hamilton.
Once the sample is submitted, results are typically available within a few business days. If bacteria are detected, public health inspectors can provide detailed advice, and step-by-step instructions are available for disinfecting your well safely and effectively.
If test results indicate contamination, residents are advised to disinfect their well, ideally in the evening, as the water system will need to remain unused for at least 12 hours. Disinfection involves adding a specific amount of household bleach (depending on the type and depth of the well) mixed with water, flushing it through the entire plumbing system, and then retesting after 48 hours.
Clear instructions and a well disinfection tool are available through Public Health Ontario for anyone unsure about the process.
To support local residents, WDG Public Health has launched new resources online, including a live Well Water Testing Dashboard, updated testing locations, and downloadable information on well care and disinfection.
For more information or to find a testing kit location near you, visit wdgpublichealth.ca/wellwater or call 1-800-265-7293 ext. 4753.