Private Well Water Samples for Testing at 185 King St.
Written by admin, January 5, 2017
January 5, 2017 – New Drop Off Service at 185 King St. Starts January 16, 2017
Starting January 16, residents can drop off their private well water samples at Peterborough Public Health offices located at 185 King St. and these will be sent to the local Public Health Ontario Laboratory for testing.
“We are pleased to make it easier for residents in Peterborough county or city to get their well water samples tested by dropping them off at the same location where they pick up the sample bottles,” said Atul Jain, Manager of Environmental Health Programs. “Water quality changes over time, that’s why we recommend testing private wells three to four times a year to prevent health risks. We hope by making this testing service more accessible that residents will test their well water more regularly.”
Jain explained how Peterborough Public Health has set up a new courier service between its downtown location at 185 King St. and the Public Health Ontario Laboratory located at 99 Hospital Drive. Free sample bottles are available on the third floor by the main counter at 185 King St. as well, so now residents can pick up a bottle and return it to the same location. Residents can continue to deliver their water samples directly to the Hospital Drive lab itself between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and the water sample drop off at the Havelock Belmont Methuen location remains active as well.
Water samples can be dropped up between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Fridays. This service is available to all residents and cottagers at no charge in Peterborough County and City.
Residents will receive their water quality results through mail or by calling Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Voice Response at 1-877-723-3426 (TTY: 1-866-828-2238). Residents with questions about their water quality results can call the Peterborough Public Health’s Safe Water Program at 705-743-1000, ext. 232 for free consultation.
The well water sample is tested for the bacterial contaminations total coliforms and E. coli. The presence of E. coli indicates the water has been contaminated with fecal material which can contain disease-causing microbes. These organisms can cause severe gastrointestinal illness. Anyone can become ill if they consume contaminated water, but the young, elderly and immunocompromised are at a higher risk. To find out how to test for other contaminants, please contact the Peterborough Public Health at 705-743-1000, ext. 232 or visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca, click on “My Home & Environment”, then “My Home”, then “Water”.
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For further information, please contact:
Brittany Cadence
Communications Manager
705-743-1000, ext. 391