Is It Safe To Drink Water Directly From A Private Well?

Most people get their drinking water from provincially regulated municipal water systems. On the other hand, in rural Ontario about 90% of residents get their drinking water from private wells or springs. There are regulations governing the construction, maintenance and abandonment of wells, but ultimately homeowners are legally responsible for their water supply and need to pay close attention to the safety of their drinking water.

Groundwater that fills wells can sometimes become contaminated although generally the deeper the well, the better the water quality. Surface run-off may allow pollutants to seep into groundwater. Traces of things like micro organisms, heavy metals, lead, copper, household waste, fluoride and more can all be found in ground water.

Risk of contamination depends on many things including the quality of well construction, its location and on-going maintenance. The local environment is another factor in assessing the risk of potential contamination.  This includes the quality of the aquifer from which water is drawn and the human activities such as farm animals or industry in proximity to the well.

Public Health recommends adding a form of treatment such as a UV light to any system that provides drinking water from a spring or well. 

It is important to test your well before using the water for the first time. Testing will identify chemicals and other contaminants like nitrates, sodium, fluoride and pesticides. Once a well is operational the water quality must be monitored on a regular basis. We highly recommend well water be tested three or four times a year for Coliform bacteria. This bacteriological test is a free service offered through your local health unit and the provincial health laboratory.

Should you require further information on well water quality or water testing, please call Public Health at 519-376-9420 or toll free at 1-800-263-3456, or visit us at our web site: www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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