Drinking Water

In Waterloo Region, we have access to high-quality drinking water through the municipal supply, private wells and small drinking water systems. 

Most people in Waterloo Region get water from their municipality. Learn more about the Region's municipal water supply and testing. 

On this page:

Private wells  

Sign up for emails to receive well water testing reminders and to be notified of sample drop-off hours disruptions and holiday closures.

Private wells are found throughout Waterloo Region, usually in rural and agricultural areas. Private wells are often the drinking water source for a household and sometimes supply multiple buildings (e.g. house, barn, workshop). 

Owners of private drinking water wells are responsible for testing their own drinking water throughout the year to know the water is safe to drink. Visit Health Canada's well water and health page for more information on private well maintenance. 

Well Water Fact Sheet

Well water testing information and cost

Public Health recommends private well owners test for bacteria three times a year (spring, summer and fall) and once a year for nitrates and fluoride. Bacteria, nitrates and fluoride can exist in well water at some level. If they reach certain levels, they can make your water unsafe to drink. 

For information on how to test your well water, read Public Health Ontario's instructions on how to collect a well water sample. You can pick up testing bottles from locations across the region. 

If you need reminders to test your private well, sign up for our well water emails.

Bacterial tests

Testing for bacteria is free and is funded by Public Health Ontario. Public Health Ontario tests for coliforms and E. coli bacteria. For more information, visit their well water testing page. 

Nitrate and fluoride tests

Testing for nitrates or fluoride is $20.80 each. Please provide proof of payment for nitrate or fluoride testing when you drop off your filled water sample bottle. You can pay online through the Nitrate and Fluoride Water Testing Payment form.

Nitrate Fact Sheet Fluoride Fact Sheet

Test pick up and drop off locations

All samples must be dropped off within 24 hours of being taken. Holiday closures impact well water testing sample drop-off times. Sign up for emails to be notified of service disruptions.

Complete the water test requisition on paper or online at Public Health Ontario’s Water Testing Portal. Please note that online results are only available when requisitions are completed online through the portal. 

You can pick up testing sample bottles during business hours from the locations listed below, unless otherwise noted. 

You can drop off sample bottles for bacterial testing at rural locations on Tuesdays and at urban locations on Mondays through Thursdays. 

You can drop off sample bottles for nitrate and fluoride testing at any location on the last Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise noted.

Test results

For bacterial testing results, keep one of the barcodes from the water collection bottle. You can use this code and the last name entered on the test to access results online in 2 to 4 business days. To learn what your test results mean, visit Get and Understand Your Results.

Results for nitrate and fluoride tests may take up to 4 weeks. The results will arrive in the mail.

Call 519-575-4400 if you have questions about your water test results.

Well water after a flood

After a flood, your well or cistern may be contaminated with bacteria and chemicals that can make you sick. Do not drink the water or use it for food preparation until laboratory testing shows it is safe to drink.

The first steps you need to take are to:

  • Stop using your well water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and washing food. This includes:
    • Making formula for babies
    • Making juices or other drinks from concentrate
    • Making ice cubes
  • Use bottled water. Boiling water for at least one minute is only safe if the well or cistern is not contaminated with chemicals or heavily polluted with sewage.
  • Stay away from your well pump when it is flooded because 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.

 Abandoned and unused wells

The Province of Ontario's website has information on well owner responsibilities. 

Watch Grand River Conservation Authority's video about well safety, upgrading or decommissioning your well:

What if I smell "rotten egg" in my well water?

Hydrogen sulphide is a naturally occurring gas known for its rotten egg odour. It can be released into air or water.

The smell of hydrogen sulphide and its accompanying "sulphur water" taste occur in some water sources at low concentrations. Even at low levels, water will become unpleasant, and most people will avoid drinking the water. The odour may be more noticeable when you run hot water, as heat forces the gas into the air. This may cause the odour to be especially offensive when showering.

If there is an ongoing issue with hydrogen sulphide in your water supply, there are many water treatment devices capable of removing it. Consult a licensed plumber or a water treatment company to determine what water treatment device will best suit your needs.

Water samples submitted to Public Health are only tested for bacteria. Chemical testing can be done for a fee through a licensed private lab.

For more information about hydrogen sulfide and air quality in your home, visit Health hazards in the home. 

Small drinking water systems

If you run a business or organization that provides access to drinking water for the public and your water is not from the municipal supply, you might operate a small drinking water system. These private water systems can include but are not limited to:

  • Motels
  • Bed and breakfasts
  • Restaurants
  • Golf courses
  • Gas stations
  • Trailer parks or campgrounds
  • Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples or other places of worship

Owners of small drinking water systems are required to follow small drinking water system regulations and test their water often to ensure it is safe to drink.

Owners should review Ontario's safe water page and fact sheets for information on safely operating small drinking water systems. 

Report adverse water quality

Adverse water quality is when there is a presence of total coliforms, E. coli or contamination from chemicals. Owners and operators of small drinking water systems are required to immediately report incidents of adverse water quality to Public Health.

To report an adverse water quality incident call 519-575-4400.

Forms for small drinking water systems operators

Where to find more information on drinking water

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