Water Sample Courier Service Paused For Winter Season

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Peterborough Public Health (PPH), the Municipality of Trent Lakes and the Township of North Kawartha have paused their joint well water sample drop-off program for the winter.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The final date for county residents to drop off their samples at the North Kawartha Municipal Office and the Trent Lakes Municipal Office is Nov. 30.

The free well water sample drop-off service returns on the first week of April. During the winter months, residents can continue to drop off their samples at the following locations:

  • Peterborough Public Health, 185 King St., Peterborough, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Fridays

  • Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 99 Hospital Dr., Peterborough, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday

  • Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township Office, 1 Ottawa St., Havelock between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday.

PPH says it is essential to test well water several times throughout the year. It is recommended to test the water twice per year for a drilled well. For a dug well, the recommendation is four times per year.

“Even when the ground is frozen, contamination may be present. Sampling water from your well is the best way to ensure that the water is free of pathogens, which can cause illness if consumed,” said Chris Eaton, PPH public health inspector. “We look forward to resuming our courier service with the municipalities in the spring so it’s easier for residents to submit well water for testing.”

Well water samples are tested for two types of bacterial contamination: total coliforms and E. coli which indicates the water has been contaminated with fecal material, which can contain disease-causing microbes. These 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.

After samples are submitted, residents will receive water quality results by mail or call Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Voice Response at 1-877-723-3426.

For interpretation of the test results or to find out how to test for contaminants other than total coliforms or E. coli, please call Peterborough Public Health’s Safe Water Program at 705-743-1000, ext. 240 or visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

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