It is time for people to test their well water.
That is the message from Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health.
Its officials say that during the spring thaw and periods of heavy rain, bacteria are more likely to enter private wells and cisterns. Those bacteria can make people sick with stomach cramps, diarrhea, and other problems.
Scott Hutchison, health protection program manager at WDG Public Health said, “Almost half the population of Wellington and Dufferin Counties gets its drinking water from private wells. We’ve had a lot of snow and rain this winter and that can affect the quality of drinking water. We recommend you test your water three times every year.”
Public health laboratories test for total coliform and E. coli. Total coliform are found in animal wastes and sewage, but are also found in soil and on vegetation. If anyone has total coliform in their well water, it is usually the result of surface water runoff entering the well. Those bacteria do not usually make people sick.
E. coli are found in the digestive systems of people and animals. If there is E. coli in the well water, it is usually the result of recent sewage contamination from a nearby source, such as a septic system, animal barn, or farm. Those bacteria will make people sick.
Water sampling kits are available from Public Health or your township office. Kits contain a water bottle and detailed instructions on how to take water samples and bring them to Public Health for testing. The test results are usually available within 48 hours.
The water tests are a free service. For more information, visit www.wdghu.org.
