Do you know what’s in your water?  

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority made a notable appearance at the London Farm Show during the first week of March. Representing Thames-Sydenham and Region, our Drinking Water Source Protection team shared Best Practices for Private Well owners. At the event, we distributed well water sample collection kits to owners of private drinking water systems, encouraging them to test their drinking water.  

While municipal drinking water systems require Source Water Protection, private drinking water systems do not. Instead, owners of private systems are directly responsible for protecting their own water sources. Proactively protecting your drinking water sources ensures the health of those drinking the water, preserves the environment, and mitigates the high costs of cleaning up contaminated drinking water sources. It can also extend the life of the drinking water system infrastructure. 

Do you know what’s in your drinking water? If you own a private well, regular testing is important to ensure the absence of harmful contaminants. Currently, well water sample collection kits are free of charge, allowing you to be confident in the safety of the water you’re drinking. You can access pick up and drop off locations through Public Health Ontario’s website or your local Health Unit’s website.   

Once you know what’s in your water, it’s time to protect it! Follow Conservation Ontario’s Best Practices to help protect your water: 

• Have your septic system inspected annually and your septic tank pumped every 3 to 5 years;  
• Test your drinking water system regularly; 

• Perform an annual visual inspection of your well. To learn more, see Caring for your Private Well Fact Sheet from Conservation Ontario;   

• Use eco-friendly alternatives for commercial fertilizers, pesticides, household cleaners, and road salts; 

• Store your fuel tanks with drip trays underneath them to prevent contamination; 

• Conserve water, especially in times of drought; 

• Dispose of hazardous waste and medications at the proper facilities; and 

• Keep a riparian or shoreline buffer zone to help reduce chemical runoff into nearby lakes.  

By regularly testing your water and following best practices, private well owners play a vital role in ensuring their drinking water stays clean to drink!