Well Water Testing

Residential Well Water

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) offers free water testing to private households that draw their drinking water from a well. This service is not intended for regulated water systems such as municipal water and Small Drinking Water Systems. If your drinking water comes from a private well, you are responsible for ensuring the drinking safety (potability) of your water. Test your well water for coliform bacteria and E-coli:

  • every 3 months (4 times a year)
  • if you suspect a waterborne illness
  • if you notice a change in colour, odour or taste

The test is free. You can pick up a water sample bottle at the EOHU (water samples submitted in other containers will not be tested at the public health lab). You can return it to the EOHU office nearest you according to the schedule below.

Water is tested for bacteria only. People who wish to test their water for the presence of other substances like chemicals or minerals need to send their sample to a private lab.

NOTE: Due to the ongoing Canada Post strike, there may be a delay in receiving well water test results by mail from the Public Health Ontario Lab. For questions, or for more information about alternate ways to access your drinking water test results, please consult the Public Health Ontario Laboratory website.

Well Water Sample Drop-Off Hours

Location Hours
Alexandria
60 Anik Street, Suite 200 		Mondays and Wednesdays
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Casselman
872 Principale St. 		Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Cornwall
1000 Pitt St. 		Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Hawkesbury
134 Main Street East, Suite 301 		Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Rockland
2229 Laurier Street, Suite 200 		Wednesdays and Thursdays
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Winchester
530 Fred Street, Suite A 		Monday to Wednesday
8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Please note:

  • Well water samples cannot be accepted on Fridays.
  • Well water samples cannot be accepted on the day preceding a statutory holiday (e.g. if Friday is a statutory holiday, samples cannot be accepted the Thursday before).
  • When the temperature is consistently below -15 degrees Celsius overnight, there is a risk that the well water samples may freeze in transport and therefore not be processed by the laboratory. The lower the temperature, the higher the risk.
  • Please ensure the requisition form is complete and that all information is accurate. If you have any questions about submitting a water sample, contact the laboratory directly.
  • If you need well water sample test results urgently, you can take your sample directly to the nearest public health laboratory. Please contact the laboratory directly to confirm drop-off hours.

Businesses and Institutions Using Well Water

Regulated facilities must ensure that their water supply is safe in accordance with the applicable legislation, including O. Reg. 319/08: SMALL DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS and O. Reg. 170/03: DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS and in accordance with any directives or advice issued by public health and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.