If you want to check the water quality of your private well, you can now deliver water samples directly to Peterborough Public Health at 185 King Street in downtown Peterborough beginning Monday, January 16th.
“We are pleased to make it easier for residents in Peterborough county or city to get their well water samples tested,” says Atul Jain, Manager of Environmental Health Programs. “As water quality changes over time, we recommend testing private wells three to four times a year to prevent health risks.”
Peterborough Public Health has set up a new courier service between its downtown Peterborough location and the Public Health Ontario Laboratory, located at 99 Hospital Drive, where the samples are tested. Free sample bottles are available on the third floor by the main counter at 185 King St. as well, so now residents can pick up a bottle and return it to the same location.
Water samples can be dropped off at Peterborough Public Health between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Fridays.
You can also continue to drop off samples directly to the Hospital Drive lab itself (between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.), as well as the location at the Havelock Belmont Methuen Municipal Office (1 Ottawa St. E., Havelock).
The well water testing service is available at no charge to all residents and cottagers in the City and County of Peterborough County.
Well water samples are tested for two types of bacterial contamination: total coliforms and E. coli. The presence of E. coli indicates the water has been contaminated with fecal material, which can contain disease-causing microbes. These organisms can cause severe gastrointestinal illness. Anyone can become ill if they consume contaminated water, but the young, elderly, and immuno-compromised are at a higher risk.
You will receive water quality results by mail or you can call Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Voice Response at 1-877-723-3426. If you have questions about water quality test results, you can call the Peterborough Public Health’s Safe Water Program at 705-743-1000, ext. 232, for a free consultation.
To find out how to test for contaminants other than total coliforms and E. coli, contact Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000, ext. 232 or visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
