NOTE: The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care no longer contacts private well water users regarding unsatisfactory water sample results.
For timely results, please ensure you remove one of the four bar code labels on the bottle and attach it to the blue card “Water Results by Telephone”. 4 to 5 business days after dropping your sample off at a Health Unit office you may call 1-877-723-3426 and follow the prompts to access your results. If your sample is dropped off directly at a public health laboratory you may call for results in 2 to 3 business days.
Otherwise you will receive your results directly from the laboratory by mail.
If you suspect that your water may be bacteriologically unsafe for drinking, we recommend using an alternate safe source of water until you have 3 consecutive satisfactory samples.
Note:If a Statutory Holiday occurs, changes in the schedule may be occur the week prior to and week of the Statutory Holiday. Please check with offices to confirm if changes in schedule are required.
How to Take a Water Sample
How to Test Your Water - Follow Steps 1-6
Do not open the bottle until you are ready to take the sample.
Do not rinse the bottle prior to collecting the sample as it contains a preservative.
1. Sample must be collected in a correct water sampling bottle available at any health unit office. These bottles are for private drinking water systems only. Print your name on the tag included with your kit and stick it on bottle. Do not submit samples from unprotected sources unless the water has been treated first e.g.) lakes, streams.
2. Remove all filters or aerators from the faucet. Carefully clean the end of the tap with a clean cloth and some bleach. Take the sample from a tap that you would normally use for drinking water in your home.
3. Let the cold water run for at least three (3) minutes prior to taking your sample.
4. Avoid contaminating sampling bottle or lid. (Again, do not open the bottle until you are ready to take the sample and do not rinse the bottle prior to collecting the sample as it contains a preservative). Keep the lid in your hand, but do not touch the inside of the cap.
5. Once the sample is taken, keep it cold but not frozen. A small cooler, or putting the sample on an ice pack while travelling can achieve this for you, especially through the summer months.
6. Return the filled water bottle to the health unit (hours and locations are below) as soon as possible for testing at the public health lab in Kingston or Ottawa. Be sure to completely fill in all the information required on the data sheet. Not doing so may result in your sample not being tested. For quicker results record the pin number on the bottle onto the pink card provided within the water testing kit. By following the directions stated on the pink card you may then obtain your results from an automated voice based system 3-4 business days after submitting the sample for testing.
Please do not rely on the results from a single sample. A series of three samples taken one to two weeks apart will help determine your water quality and stability of your water supply.
Water samples may be submitted at the following offices or at the public health laboratory closest to you. Please check days and times that samples may be dropped off as it varies per location.
The Health Unit DOES NOT Collect Water Samples on Fridays.
Brockville
Main Office: 458 Laurier Blvd., Brockville, ON K6V 7A3
Phone: 613-345-5685
Fax: 613-345-2879
Office Hours for water bottle drop off: Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Smiths Falls
25 Johnston Street, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 0A4
Phone: 613-283-2740
Fax: 613-283-1679
Office Hours for water bottle drop off: Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Kemptville
2675 Concession Road, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0
Phone: 613-258-5941
Fax: 613-258-1407
Office Hours for water bottle drop off: Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Almonte
Mississippi Mills Township Office
3131 Old Perth Road, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0
Office Hours for water bottle drop off: Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Gananoque
375 William Street South, Suite 200, Gananoque, ON K7G 1T2
Phone: 613-382-4231
Fax: 613-382-7599
Office Hours for water bottle drop off: Monday – Wednesday 8:00am – 4:00pm;
Thursday 8:00am – 11:30am
Perth
The Office
11 Wilson St. E, Perth, ON K7H 1L4
Office Hours for water bottle drop off: Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 5:30pm
Portland
Country Roads Community Health Centre
4319 Cove Road at Hwy 15, RR#1 Portland, ON K0G 1V0
Office Hours for water bottle drop off:
Monday 8:00am – 5:00pm;
Tuesday 8:00am - 7:00pm;
Wednesday 8:00am - 5:00pm;
Thursday 8:00am – 7:00pm
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORIES
KINGSTON
181 Barrie Street
Kingston, ON
K7L 4V8
OTTAWA
2380 St. Laurent Blvd.
Ottawa, ON
K1G 5A4
Where to Pickup Bottles for Private Drinking Water Testing
Sample bottles are provided free of charge to homeowners with private wells at any of our Health Unit offices located in Smiths Falls, Brockville, Kemptville and Gananoque. Sample bottles are also available at the following municipal offices: Athens, Beckwith, Drummond/North Elmsley, Edwardsburg/Cardinal, Elizabethtown/Kitley, Lanark Highlands, Leeds and the 1000 Islands, Merrickville-Wolford, Mississippi Mills, Montague, Perth, Rideau Lakes and Tay Valley, Westport.
