CK Public Health is reminding residents who rely on private wells for drinking water that regular testing is essential to protect health and safety.
Contaminated water can carry harmful microorganisms including bacteria. Contaminated water may cause serious illness, or even death, officials said during a recent board of health meeting.
Testing well water is a shared responsibility between private well owners and CK Public Health. While the health unit provides free testing services for bacteria that can be found in well water, private well owners must take the initiative to collect and submit samples.
“According to the provincial auditor general’s recent report, despite the availability of free testing, less than one-third of Ontarians who rely on private wells tested their water within the past 12 months,” Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, medical officer of health for Chatham-Kent, said in a media release. “Testing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent illness from drinking water.”
Public health officials urge residents to test their well water three times per year, suggesting early spring, summer and fall as the prime times to test.
There is no charge to have your water tested through CK Public Health. Residents can pick up bottles at any municipal service centre or CK Public Health office.
Samples can be dropped off at CK Public Health’s offices at 177 King St. E. in Chatham between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday or from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Fridays. Results are usually available within two to four business days.
Registering and accessing results online through the Public Health Ontario website helps accelerate matters, according to CK Public Health officials.
The requisition form can be completed online, and results are also available there.
For more information, visit ckphu.com/drinking-water or call 519-352-7270.
