Safe drinking water is necessary for many everyday activities like drinking, brushing teeth, washing food, and cooking.
Municipal water
Municipal water is treated and tested to ensure it meets the Ontario Drinking Water Standards, ensuring it is safe to drink. The Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks monitor municipal water systems for compliance with Ontario Regulation 170/03 Drinking Water System.
Private well water
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 KFL&A Public Health office, or at the Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 181 Barrie St., Kingston.
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.
How to sample your well water - Transcript |
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Bacteria in your well water could make you and your family sick. The Public Health Ontario Lab tests private, residential drinking water free of charge. Use a sampling kit provided by Public Health Ontario and test your well water to ensure it is safe for drinking. Your water should be tested at least three times a year. The reliability of your drinking water test results depends on proper collection, storage, and transport. Here are the steps to sample your water: Step 1 - Pick up a sampling kit at any KFL&A Public Health office, or the Public Health Ontario Lab. Step 2 - Take the sample indoors. Remove any aerators, screens, or filters on the tap. Step 3 - Wash your hands with soap and water. Step 4 - Wipe the mouth of the tap with a household disinfectant before collecting the sample. Step 5 - Let the water run cold for at least two minutes before collecting the sample. Before opening the bottle, make sure the seal of the cap hasn’t been broken. Step 6 - Take the cap off the bottle just before you collect the sample. Don’t touch the inside top of the sampling bottle or its cap. Otherwise, you may contaminate your sample. Don’t rinse the sampling bottle. Step 7 - Fill the bottle to the marked line. Make sure the water doesn’t overflow. Step 8 - Fill in the shaded areas of the requisition form included in the sampling kit. Keep the sample cold until delivered. Refrigerate, but do not freeze. Use ice packs when transporting the sample. Step 9 - Take your collected water sample to KFL&A Public Health or the Public Health Ontario Lab within 24 hours. For drop off locations, visit kflaph.ca/DrinkingWater |
Water sample pick up and drop off locations:
KFL&A Public Health - Kingston office |
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221 Portsmouth Ave., Kingston Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
KFL&A Public Health - Sharbot Lake office |
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1130 Elizabeth St., Sharbot Lake Tuesdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. |
KFL&A Public Health - Cloyne office |
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14209 Highway 41, Cloyne Wednesdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. |
KFL&A Public Health - Napanee office |
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99 Advance Ave., Napanee Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Public Health Ontario Lab |
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181 Barrie St., Kingston Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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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 KFL&A 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.
Small drinking water systems
Small drinking water systems must meet the requirements of O. Reg. 319/08 Small Drinking Water Systems.
If your small drinking water system has stopped supplying water to users for more than 60 days, you must notify the medical officer of health in writing of your intention to reopen your small drinking water system.
An owner and operator of a small drinking water system shall ensure that no water is supplied to users of that system until the medical officer of health is notified.