Peterborough Public Health, in collaboration with the Municipality of Trent Lakes and the Township of North Kawartha, is pausing its well water sample drop-off service for the winter.
The last day for residents to submit samples at the North Kawartha and Trent Lakes Municipal Offices is Thursday, November 28th.
The program will resume in the first week of April 2025. During the winter months, residents can still drop off samples at:
- Peterborough Public Health, 185 King St., Peterborough
- Monday to Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 99 Hospital Dr., Peterborough
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township Office, 1 Ottawa St., Havelock
- Monday to Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Testing well water is crucial year-round. Chris Eaton, a public health inspector, emphasized that even during winter, contamination risks persist. “Sampling water from your well is the best way to ensure that the water is free of pathogens, which may cause illness if consumed.”
Drilled wells should be tested twice a year, while dug wells require testing four times annually. Well water is analyzed for total coliforms and E. coli, indicators of bacterial contamination. E. coli presence suggests fecal contamination, which can lead to severe gastrointestinal illness, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and immuno-compromised individuals.
Results are available by mail or through Public Health Ontario’s Interactive Voice Response at 1-877-723-3426. For guidance on interpreting results or testing for other contaminants, contact Peterborough Public Health’s Safe Water Program at 705-743-1000, ext. 240, or visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
