Halton Region Offers Fall Well Water Information Sessions

In order to promote well water safety, the Halton Region Health Department will be holding 2 Well Water Information Sessions in the fall for residents who use private wells.

1. Tuesday, October 7 at Conservation Halton, 2596 Britannia Road West, Lowville get directions
2. Wednesday, October 15 at the Limehouse Memorial Hall, 12389 Fifth Lane, Halton Hills get directions

Residents are invited to drop in anytime between 3:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

These sessions are important because according to the Halton Region Rural Well Water Testing Survey conducted in 2007, 43% of water samples taken from dug wells and 31% of water samples taken from drilled wells were contaminated with bacteria and considered unsafe to drink.

Rural residents in Halton who use a private well must maintain their own safe drinking supply through testing and maintenance. Halton Region provides residents with water sampling tools and education so that they have the knowledge and ability to ensure and maintain the safety of their well water.

“Prevention is the best way to protect your family against any disease,” said Dr. Bob Nosal, Medical Officer of Health for Halton Region. “We encourage owners of private wells to take advantage of these information sessions.”

Residents attending the information sessions have an opportunity to:

• Talk to Public Health Inspectors about well water quality concerns.
• Bring 1 cup of water in a sterilized jar to have well water tested for nitrates. The presence of nitrates could indicate contamination.
• Drop off a water sample to be sent for bacteria testing. Call us or visit our website at www.halton.ca/health to find out where you can get an approved water sample bottle. (Water samples to be submitted for bacteria testing must put into approved water sample bottles.)
• Pick up approved water sample bottles for future bacteria testing.
• Learn about water treatment systems such as ultra violet, reverse osmosis and chlorination from experienced water treatment companies.
• Talk to staff from Halton Region’s Public Works and Engineering Services Department to discuss water conservation principles.
• Observe well drilling equipment and learn about well drilling from professionals from the Ontario Ground Water Association.
• Learn the results from the 2007 Halton Region Rural Well Water Study.

For more information on the Well Water Information Sessions, please contact Halton Region at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866), TTY 905-827-9833, or visit our website at www.halton.ca/health.

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