The Elora Environment Centre is reminding Wellington County well-owners to test their drinking water at least three times a year – and especially after heavy rainfalls.
Centre officials noted April brought several heavy rain storms and there is a risk of surface water getting into the well, especially one that is not properly sealed – and contaminants from the surface can cause health hazards. Fall is the ideal time to take a water sample and ensure that the family’s drinking water supply is clean, safe and free of bacteria.
The bacterial water test checks for total coliforms. The presence of even a low count of total coliforms (1 to 5) is an indicator that the water may be unsafe. The presence of total coliforms is used as an indicator that other more harmful bacteria, with similar life cycles, may also be present.
A higher total coliform count (6 to 80) is a strong indicator that harmful micro-organisms may be present. Assume that the water is unsafe for drinking. Recent changes to the standard for drinking water guidelines have now been set at zero parts per million coliforms.
Fecal coliform (E.coli) Any detectable presence of E.coli in the well water means the water is unsafe for drinking without treatment. E.coli is bacteria from animal and human wastes.
The Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health Unit offers free bacteria testing for well water. Sample bottles and complete instructions can be picked up at the Health Unit at 474 County Road 18, Suite 100 in Aboyne (Wellington Terrace).
The Health Unit recommends testing three times a year for drilled wells and four times a year for dug wells. Samples should be dropped off at the Public Health Unit from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Thursday.
The Elora Centre for Environmental Excellence offers free home visits as part of its Well Aware program. Well Aware home visits, conducted by trained water guides, help rural well owners identify priorities for action to protect their drinking water source.
The visits, which are voluntary, confidential, and non-regulatory, guide well owners through a self-assessment to help identify and address potential risks to their well water and septic system.
The water guide will discuss any issues specific to the property, bring along water testing bottles and provide an information kit and report. The 2010 program was highly successful with all home well visit spots being filled.
The guided self assessments will now be available to well owners in Wellington County for the 2011 season and program manager Lynda Bausinger will be contacting those residents who have already secured a spot on the waiting list shortly.
Well Aware encourages Ontario’s residential well owners to protect their wells and our common groundwater supplies. For more information about the Elora Environment Centre and any of our programs, call 519-846-0841 or visit www.eloraenvironmentcentre.ca or visit the Well Aware website at www.wellaware.ca.
