Drinking Water

Public Health recommends private well owners test for bacteria (i.e. E. coli and coliforms) as well as nitrates and fluoride.

Bacteria, nitrates, and fluoride can exist in well water at some level. Unsafe levels of bacteria, nitrates and fluoride can make your water unsafe to drink.

Testing for bacteria is free and is funded by Public Health Ontario.

Testing for nitrates or fluoride is $19.05 each. Please provide proof of payment for nitrate and/or fluoride testing when dropping off your filled water sample bottle. Payments can be made online via the Nitrate and Fluoride Water Testing Payment form.

Public Health recommends that private well water be tested for bacteria at least three times per year in:

• Spring
• Summer
• Fall

Nitrates and fluoride should be tested once per year.

For more information on how to test your well water, read Take a Drinking Water Sample.

Need a reminder to test your private well water? You can sign up here for an email reminder. 

Note: All completed samples must be dropped off within 24 hours of taking the sample.

Rural Locations 

You can drop off well water samples for bacterial testing on Tuesdays at the township (rural) locations below.

Drop-off for nitrate/fluoride testing is only available on the last Tuesday of each month at all locations. 

*Please note: The Township of Woolwich Community Health Centre only collects bacteriological tests.

Urban Locations

You can drop off well water samples for bacterial testing Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at the urban locations below.

Drop-off for nitrate/fluoride testing is only available on the last Tuesday of each month at all locations. 

Bottles may be picked up any day during regular business hours from the following locations. 

Rural Locations 

Sample bottles are also available for pick-up only from the Region of Waterloo Library.

Urban Locations

Test results are usually available two to four business days after you drop off your sample. Results for nitrate/fluoride tests may take up to four weeks. To learn about what your test results mean, visit Public Health Ontario's Get and Understand your Test Results webpage.

Call 519-575-4400 to speak with a public health inspector if you have questions about your test results. 

After a flood, your well/cistern water may be contaminated with bacteria and chemicals that can make you sick. First steps you need to take:

• Stop using your well water for drinking, cooking, and washing yourself.
• Use bottled water. Boiling water for at least one minute is only safe if the well/cistern is not contaminated with chemicals or heavily polluted with sewage.

Remember, drinking water includes water used for drinking, making artificial milk (formula) for babies, juice, and ice cubes; washing fruit and vegetables; and brushing your teeth.

Stay away from your well pump when it is flooded—you could get an electric shock. Hire a certified well contractor to check your well and its wiring and to restart the well pump after a flood, if needed.

Do not drink the water or use it for food preparation until laboratory testing shows that it is safe for drinking. 

What to do with abandoned and unused wells?

Please check Wells on your property on the Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks website for information about when and how to abandon a well.

• When to abandon a well
• How to abandon a well