People who rely on well water for drinking have a new location in the Trent Hills area to access the Health Unit’s free well water testing program.
As of Monday, November 8, the site to drop off well-water sample bottles for testing will switch to the Guardian Rx Drug Mart (16 Grand Road) in Campbellford. Water samples can be dropped off Mondays to Thursdays (8 am to 9 pm) and Sundays (8 am to 6 pm). No samples can be dropped off on Fridays or Saturdays. Well water bottles and testing kits can be picked up during all regular pharmacy hours.
The final day for the current well-water testing site located in the Trent Hills municipal office (66 Front St. S.) in Campbellford is this Thursday (Nov. 4).
“We thank Trent Hills for having hosted a well water location at its municipal office and look forward to continuing to offer this important service at the Guardian Rx Drug Mart in Campbellford,” says Bernie Mayer, Manager of Health Protection with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit. “Regular testing of your well water is essential to ensure it’s safe for drinking. Be sure to submit samples for testing at least three or four times a year to protect the health of you and your family.”
In partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Health Unit provides free water testing service for private well owners in Northumberland County, Haliburton County and the City of Kawartha Lakes. Well water samples can be dropped off at any Health Unit office in Port Hope, Lindsay and Haliburton. In addition, people also drop off water samples and pick up testing kits at satellite locations in Brighton, Coboconk, Minden and Wilberforce.
Well water samples collected by the Health Unit are sent to the provincial lab in Peterborough to test for bacteria such as E.coli. Well owners can have lab results emailed or mailed to them directly. They also have the option to phone for automated results or pick up results in-person at the lab.
“Water test results that come back showing adverse or unsatisfactory levels mean there is a problem with the well that requires attention,” Mayer says. “If this occurs, you can contact a Public Health Inspector at the Health Unit for help in understanding the results and possible suggestions to correct the problem.”
More information on the Health Unit’s well-water testing program is available at www.hkpr.on.ca under ‘Find Our Services.’ For questions about your well water results, call the Health Unit at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 5006, or email info@hkpr.on.ca.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
