Private well water

Well water sampling bottle on a decorative background.

If your drinking water comes from a private water supply such as a well, you should regularly test your water.

Public Health Ontario laboratories analyze private drinking water free of charge.

To test your private water supply, pick up a well water sampling kit during regular business hours at any Southeast Public Health office, or at the Public Health Ontario Laboratory.

Follow the sampling instructions attached to the bottle and ensure the water sample will be received by the testing lab within 48 hours of collection. Learn more about submitting your well records from the government of Ontario website.

Water sample pick up and drop off locations

Belleville

179 North Park Street
613-966-5500
Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Trenton

499 Dundas Street West
613-966-5500
Monday to Wednesday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed from 12 to 1 p.m.

Picton

35 Bridge Street, Suite 1
613-966-5500
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. closed from 12 to 1 p.m.

Tweed

255 Metcalf Street (Municipal Office)
613-966-5500
Tuesday and Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Madoc

7 Furnace Street (Municipal Office)
613-966-5500
Tuesday and Thursday
8:30 to 10 a.m.

Marmora

12 Bursthall Street (Town Hall)
613-966-5500
Tuesday and Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Bancroft

1P Manor Lane, L1 – 024
1-800-267-1461
Tuesday and Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Southeast Public Health – Kingston office

221 Portsmouth Avenue, Kingston
Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Southeast Public Health – Cloyne office

14209 Highway 41, Cloyne
Wednesdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Southeast Public Health – Napanee office

99 Advance Avenue, Napanee
Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Township of Central Frontenac office

14216 Road 38, Sharbot Lake
Tuesdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Almonte

Almonte Library (Township of Mississippi Mills Library)
155 High Street, Mississippi Mills, Ontario
Monday and Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Laboratory: Ottawa Public Health Laboratory

Brockville

Health Unit Office
458 Laurier Boulevard, Brockville, Ontario
Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12 to 1 p.m.)
Laboratory: Kingston Public Health Laboratory

Gananoque

Service Site
375 William Street South, Gananoque, Ontario Suite 200
Monday to Thursday
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed 12 to 1 p.m.)
(If you require assistance at the service site, please call on Tuesdays and Wednesdays 1-800-660-5853)
Laboratory: Kingston Public Health Laboratory

Kemptville

North Grenville Municipal Office
285 County Road #44, Kemptville, Ontario
Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Laboratory: Ottawa Public Health Laboratory

Lanark Highlands

Township Office
75 George Street, Lanark, Ontario
First Tuesday of every month
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Laboratory: Ottawa Public Health Laboratory

Perth

Tay Valley Township Office
217 Harper Road, Perth, Ontario
Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Laboratory: Ottawa Public Health Laboratory

Portland

Country Roads Community Health Centre
4319 Cove Road at Highway 15, Portland, Ontario
Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Laboratory: Kingston Public Health Laboratory

Smiths Falls

Health Unit Office
25 Johnston Street, Smiths Falls, Ontario
Monday to Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12 to 1 p.m.)
Laboratory: Ottawa Public Health Laboratory

Spencerville

The Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Municipal Office Building
18 Centre Street, Spencerville, Ontario
Tuesdays 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
A cooler will be placed inside the front doors to place your filled sample bottles.
Laboratory: Ottawa Public Health Laboratory

Locations for water bottle pick-up only

Water sample bottles are available at the following municipal offices:

  • Athens
  • Beckwith
  • Drummond/North Elmsley
  • Elizabethtown/Kitley
  • Leeds and the 1000 Islands
  • Merrickville-Wolford
  • Montague
  • Westport

Kingston

181 Barrie Street, Kingston
Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

What to do if your test results indicate your water is unsafe to drink

Stop using your private water supply for drinking, food preparation, or brushing teeth, and contact Southeast Public Health. A public health inspector can help you interpret your test results and discuss treatment options. For more information, visit the Province of Ontario’s Testing and treating private water wells webpage.

How to disinfect a contaminated well

Drinking water is usually obtained from the groundwater table through dug wells (constructed of concrete tile rings), drilled wells or sandpoint wells (constructed of steel piping). To protect your well, ensure that contaminated water from tile drains, livestock operations and roof eaves is directed away from it.

Dug wells made of brick are susceptible to contamination unless the joints between each course are sealed to a depth of 3 m (10 ft).

Refer to the Well Disinfection Tool for information on how to disinfect a contaminated well.

How do I obtain a record for the well(s) that are on my property?

Visit the interactive Well Record Map and click on the well of interest.

If you can’t find the well record using the interactive Well Record Map, please fill out this form to submit it to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

How do I get the results of my test?

Test results are usually available two to four business days after sample drop-off.

Online

  • Visit the Online Water Testing Portal at Public Health Ontario
  • This online Water Testing Portal provides a streamlined way to electronically submit your requisition and access your online report. Simply collect your sample, submit your information online, drop off your sample and access your online report.

Telephone

  • Call the toll-free Interactive Voice Response (IVR), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-877-723-3426. Enter the barcode number from the sample bottle (PIN) to hear an automated message with your test results and interpretation.

Mail

  • If you chose to receive a mailed report or made no selection, it will be sent to the name and address provided on the form.

Email

  • Email customerservicecentre@oahpp.ca and include:
    • The timeframe of results you are looking for and sample barcode(s) if available
    • Address of the water source (include street number, street name or lot, concession number, township/municipality, county and postal code)