With spring melt increasing the risk of bacterial contamination in private wells, residents in North Kawartha and Trent Lakes can once again access free water testing through a seasonal drop-off program.
Beginning tomorrow, well water samples can be dropped off twice a week at local municipal offices. In North Kawartha, the drop-off window at 280 Burleigh Street in Apsley is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 10 a.m. In Trent Lakes, samples can be left at 760 County Road 36 between 8:30 and 10 a.m. on those same days.
Sample bottles are available for pickup at both offices during regular business hours. Filled bottles must be returned within 24 hours of collection and delivered to the front desk, where staff will store them in a fridge until they’re sent to the Public Health Ontario lab in Peterborough.
Testing is available for total coliforms and E. coli—two types of bacteria that may be present in untreated well water, especially during spring thaw. Public health officials recommend testing at least twice a year, in the spring and fall, to reduce the risk of illness.
Water samples can also be dropped off year-round at Peterborough Public Health on King Street, the Public Health Ontario Lab on Hospital Drive, or the Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township Office.
Results are sent by mail, or by calling 1-877-723-3426. For questions about water quality or interpretation of results, contact Peterborough Public Health’s Safe Water Program at 705-743-1000, ext. 232.
More information is available at peterboroughpublichealth.ca/well-water-safety.
