Well Water Testing (Private Drinking Water)

How to Collect a Well Water Sample

1. Get a well water sample collection kit. 
   Water collection kits are available from your nearest PHO laboratory, public health unit or designated pickup location in your area.
   
   
2. Use the sample bottle from the kit.
   We only accept drinking water collected directly into the bottle provided in the kit. Be sure to check the lid of the bottle. If the seal is broken, use a new collection kit. 
   
   
3. Sample your well water when you are sure it can be delivered to the PHO laboratory in time. 
   We will not test a sample if it is too old by the time it is received by the laboratory. Contact your local public health unit for sample drop-off locations in your community. Confirm how soon a sample must be submitted after collection to ensure it is tested within the required 48 hour limit. 
   
   
4. Remove any aerator, screen or other attachment from your kitchen faucet.
   If you cannot do this, take a sample from an inside tap with no aerator, such as the bathtub. Do not take a sample from an outside faucet or the garden hose.
   
   
5. Turn on the cold water for two to three minutes. 
   This will help remove standing water from your plumbing system.
   
   
6. Disinfect the end of the faucet spout with an alcohol swab or diluted bleach solution.
   Use a diluted bleach solution (1 part household bleach to 10 parts water) or an alcohol prep pad to remove debris or bacteria. Do not disinfect the spout with a flame because this can damage the faucet. 
   
   
7. Turn on the cold water again. 
   Let the tap run for another two to three minutes.
   
   
8. Remove the lid of the sample bottle.
   If the “tamper proof” ring on the lid is broken, use another PHO collection bottle.  Do not touch the inside of the lid, put down the lid or rinse out the bottle since it contains a preservative to neutralize any chlorine that may be in the sample.  
   
   
9. Fill the bottle to the level that is marked.
   If the water level is below the fill line there may not be enough volume to perform the test.  If there is too much water, the sample cannot be mixed properly. Close the lid firmly and keep it cold but not frozen until it can be delivered to the drop off location.
   
   

Submitting Well Water Samples

Learn how to collect a well water sample and submit it to a PHO laboratory by watching this video from Grey Bruce Public Health Unit

Watch now

1. Fill out all the gray-shaded areas on the form.

Include (*mandatory): 

• first and last names*
• complete mailing address*
• location of the water source* (include Emergency locator number/911#, County and postal code if possible)
• date and time you collected the sample (include year) 
• public health unit number (see page 2 of the instructions)
• tell us if your system has a purification system
• daytime telephone number (include area code) 
• select how you would like to receive your test results: in person or by mail.

If your form is incomplete, the laboratory will not test your sample, and you will need to submit another sample with another form.

2. Write your name on the nametag that is on the plastic bag.

• Peel the nametag off and stick it to the bottle.
• Do not cover the barcodes. 
• The name on the nametag must match the name on the form or the sample will not be tested.

 3. You can choose to get your report in person or by mail.  You can access your results by telephone through the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) at 1-877-723-3426.

• To receive your results by telephone, remove one of the barcodes from the bottle and stick it to the "Water Results by Telephone” card in the kit. The number on the barcode is your Personal Identification Number (PIN), which is needed to get your results by telephone. This is the fastest way to get your results.

Follow these instructions to make sure your sample does not degrade before you submit it to the laboratory:

1. Drop off the sample as soon as possible.
   Contact your local public health unit for sample drop-off locations in your community. Confirm how soon a sample must be submitted after collection to ensure it is tested within the required 48 hour limit.
   
   
2. Keep the sample cool (not frozen) until you drop it off.
   Do not store the sample at room temperature or in a warm place as this can affect the accuracy of your results. 

Drop-Off Hours

PHO laboratory - Toronto (For private citizen drinking water samples only)
81 Resources Road, Etobicoke, ON 
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed Saturday, Sunday and statutory holidays*

Or

661 University Avenue, Toronto, ON 17th floor reception desk
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed Saturday, Sunday and statutory holidays*

* If the statutory holiday falls on a week day, samples will not be accepted the day before the holiday as well

Public Health Unit
Contact your local public health unit for locations and hours. 

Get Your Test Results

You can usually get your test results two to four business days after you drop off your sample. 

There are several ways to get your report:

• By telephone
  The toll-free Interactive Voice Response (IVR) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-877-723-3426 Key in the barcode number from the sample bottle (PIN) to hear an automated message with your test results and interpretation
  

• For TTY calls:

1. Call 711 with your TTY device or follow the instructions provided by your telecommunications provider to call the Relay Service Operator.
2. Ask the operator call 1-877-723-3426 and press 1 for English.
3. Give them your barcode number and ask them to follow the prompts.

Understand Your Results

Read the Drinking Water Quality – Indicator Bacteria Fact Sheet

No significant evidence of bacterial contamination

What it means: No significant bacterial contamination was found.

What to do: Continue to test your drinking water on a regular basis to see if there are any changes in your drinking water quality.

Significant evidence of bacterial contamination

What it means: Significant bacterial contamination was found.

What to do: Your drinking water may be unsafe to drink:

• Stop using your well water
• Contact your local public health unit for information as soon as possible
• Resample

Consider using bottled water or a municipal supply if available.

UNSAFE TO DRINK: Evidence of fecal contamination

What it means: Indicates bacterial contamination from animal or human feces.

What to do: Your drinking water is unsafe to drink:

• Stop using your well water
• Contact your local public health unit for information as soon as possible
• Resample

Consider using bottled water or a municipal supply if available.

NDOGN - No Data: Overgrown with Non-target.

What it means: Heavily contaminated with bacteria often found in the environment.

What to do: Your drinking water is unsafe to drink:

• Stop using your well water
• Contact your local public health unit for information as soon as possible
• Resample

Consider using bottled water or a municipal supply if available.

NDOGT - No Data: Overgrown with Target

What it means: Heavily contaminated with bacteria often found in the environment and the indicators of bacterial contamination, total coliforms and / or E. coli are present.

What to do: Your drinking water is unsafe to drink:

• Stop using your well water
• Contact your local public health unit for information as soon as possible
• Resample

Consider using bottled water or a municipal supply if available.

Private well owners are responsible for preventing surface water and other foreign materials from entering their systems. You can protect the long-term quality of your drinking water by protecting the water source and properly maintaining your well.

If you have had unacceptable test results in the past, take action to improve the long-term quality of your drinking water:

• Disinfect your well and entire household plumbing system if test results show significant bacterial contamination. Contact your local public health unit. Refer to the Well Disinfection Tool or Technical Bulletin Wells Regulation - Well Disinfection.
• Re-test your well water to make sure it does not contain significant amounts of bacterial contaminants.
• Get your well and plumbing system professionally inspected if the quality of your well water does not improve. Contact your local public health unit.

For more information on protecting your well and drinking water, contact your local public health unit or the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.