Grey Bruce Health Unit advises residents to get their private wells tested

If you get your drinking water from a well, the arrival of spring means that it is time to test your water.

The warmer weather produces spring-melt and flooding. Lots of surface water and high groundwater can contaminate private drinking water systems.

The Grey Bruce Health Unit advises residents, who get their water from a private system, to sample their water at
this time of the year.

“Testing your water is free," says Andrew Barton, safe water manager. "If you find a problem, there are a number of things you can do to protect the health of you and your family.”

Water bottle pick-up and drop-off sites are located throughout Grey and Bruce counties. Water samples are sent to London Public Health lab for testing. Lab results are returned within a few days, to let you know if the sample was contaminated with total coliform or E coli.

The Grey Bruce Health Unit website, at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca, has more information and links about private water systems and what to do if there is a problem. For specific information, you can call the health unit at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456, and talk to a public health inspector.