Well Water Testing
No well water sample drop-off on Thursday, November 12 (afternoon) or Friday, November 13.
Well water samples will not be accepted at any HPPH office on the afternoon of Thursday, November 12 or the day of Friday, November 13.
If you usually drop off your well water samples at the West Gore office:
• Samples will be accepted until 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 12.
• Samples received after 11:30 a.m. on Thursday will not be couriered to the Public Health Laboratory.
• Regular service resumes Monday, Nov. 16.
If you usually drop off your well water samples at the Clinton office:
• Samples will be accepted until 10 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 12.
• Samples received after 10 a.m. on Thursday will not be couriered to the Public Health Laboratory.
• Regular service resumes Monday, Nov. 16.
You can also select an alternative drop-off location and date from the list of drop-off locations below
Huron Perth Public Health provides free bacterial water testing services to all Huron and Perth county residents on a private well. It is recommended that you test your well water a minimum of three times a year, preferably in the spring, summer and fall.
Free sample bottles for testing your private drinking water are available at the locations listed below, or from your Municipal office.
Samples must be tested within 48 hours of collection. Take the sample just before you deliver it to one of the locations below.
Submitting your water test information
Public Health Ontario now has an online water testing portal.
- Collect your sample
- Submit your information online
- Drop off your sample
- Access your online report within two to four business days
Paper-based submission of your requisition is still available for those who prefer it. Your report will be mailed.
Where to drop off well water sample bottles
| Town | Location | Address | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton | HPPH office | 77722B London Rd. RR5 | Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| Exeter | South Huron Hospital | 24 Huron St. W. | Monday to Thursday, 7:30-10:30 a.m. |
| Listowel | NEW North Perth Municipal Office | 330 Wallace Ave N, Listowel | Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. |
| Milverton | Community Outreach Services, Knollcrest Lodge | 50 William St. (Community Outreach entrance) | Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Seaforth | Seaforth Community Hospital Lab | 24 Centennial Dr. | Monday to Friday, 8-9:45 a.m. |
| Stratford | HPPH office | 653 West Gore St. | Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Friday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. |
| Wingham | Wingham and District Hospital Lab | 270 Carling Terrace | Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. |
When to test your water
You should test well water quality at least three times each year, and after:
- Heavy rain falls
- Significant snow melts
- New well installation
- Any well maintenance
- Long periods without using the well
Follow the well water testing instructions provided by Public Health Ontario.
What to do if your well water is unsafe to drink
If the well water test results show that your water is unsafe to drink, follow the guidelines in this Drinking Water Safety fact sheet [PDF].
Non-bacterial well water testing
If you own a private well, it's recommended that you test your well water for non-bacterial substances at least once every four to five years. To test for non-bacterial substances, you'll need to use a licensed private laboratory in Ontario for a fee. Contact the lab directly to arrange testing.
The following non-bacterial substances can be found in well water:
- Arsenic
- Fluoride
- Lead
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Sodium
- Uranium