Testing and Treatment

Public Health Ontario labs supply their own sample bottles. Use the bottle provided and carefully follow the instructions given for collecting, preserving, and handling water samples.

To collect a proper water sample, follow these instructions:

1. Pick up a proper sample bottle. Locations where water bottles can be picked up are listed by Public Health Ontario.
2. Sample your water when you’re able to drop it off within 24 hours. Water samples that sit longer than 24 hours will lead to inaccurate results.
3. Take the sample from an indoor tap, removing any aerators, screens, or other attachments from the faucet.
4. Turn on the cold water for two to three minutes. This will help remove standing water from your plumbing system.
5. Disinfect the faucet spout with a disinfectant wipe or a diluted bleach solution (1 part household bleach to 10 parts water).
6. Let water run for another 2 to 3 minutes before taking a sample.
7. Do not rinse out the bottle. Fill bottle to marked level on the bottle. Do not touch the inside of the lid. Deliver sample within 24 hours. Keep the sample bottle cool until it is delivered (store in a fridge or cooler with ice packs).

Your results will be available in 2 to 4 business days. Call 1.877.723.3426 for results. Make sure you have your barcode number and follow the prompts.

Sample bottles are available at all Public Health Ontario Laboratories. In addition to these locations, bottles can be picked-up at the following locations:

• St. Charles Municipal Office, 2 King Street East, St. Charles
• French River Municipal Office, 44 St. Christopher Street, Noëlville
• French River Public Library, Alban Branch, 796 Hwy 64, Unit A, Alban
• Killarney Municipal Office, 32 Commissioner Street, Killarney
• Markstay-Warren Municipal Office, 21 Main Street South, Markstay
• Public Library, Markstay-Warren Multi-Use Building, 14 Warren Avenue, Warren
• Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 1300 Paris Street, Sudbury
• Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 67 Wilson Avenue, Timmins

1. Fill out all the grey-shaded areas on the form that came with the water sample kit from the laboratory. If your form is incomplete, the public health laboratory will not test your sample.
2. Write your name on the name tag that is on the plastic bag. Peel the name tag off and stick it to the bottle. The name on the name tag must match the name on the form. Do not cover the barcodes.
3. Decide how you want to receive your test results by checking off the correct box on the form. You can get your test results by telephone. If you want your sample results by phone, remove one of the barcodes from the bottle and stick it to the “Water Results by Telephone” card located in the kit. The number on the barcode is your Personal Identification Number (PIN). You will need it to get your results by telephone.

Water samples are tested by Public Health Ontario laboratories. You can deliver samples to the following locations:

Greater Sudbury and Timmins

Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 1300 Paris Street, Sudbury
• Public Health Ontario Laboratory, 67 Wilson Avenue, Timmins

Chapleau, Espanola, and Mindemoya

Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Public Health Sudbury & Districts Chapleau office, 34 Birch Street
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts Espanola office, 800 Centre Street
• Public Health Sudbury & Districts Manitoulin Island office, 6163 Highway 542

The lab will test your water for two types of bacteria:

• Total coliforms
• E.coli

Total coliforms

Total coliforms include bacteria found in soil, surface water, and the intestinal tracts of animals. Finding total coliforms in your water sample indicates that your water supply may be subject to surface contamination or that you may need additional treatment or upgrades to your water supply.

Escherichia coli

E.coli originates in the intestinal tract of animals. The presence of E.coli in your water supply may mean fecal matter has entered the well. Fecal organisms cause stomach and intestinal illnesses, including diarrhea and nausea, and may even lead to death. Babies, children, seniors, people with weakened immune system, or other illnesses may be affected more severely. E.coli in your drinking water is an immediate health concern and the water is not safe to drink.

Surface water is any source of water that is open to the atmosphere and is subject to runoff from the land. This includes lakes, streams, rivers, ponds and springs. Because these sources are open to the environment and subject to runoff, it is likely that the water will contain micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause illness.

Public Health Sudbury & Districts does not recommend that surface water be consumed unless it is treated through proper filtration and a disinfection system.

A  drilled well consists of a hole bored into the ground, with the upper part lined with casing. The casing protects the groundwater source and provides a housing for the pumping mechanism and for the pipe that moves the water from the pump to the surface. Most drilled wells reach deep aquifers; therefore, they have a lower risk of contamination and a temperature. They are, however, more vulnerable to deep aquifer contaminants (for example, salt) and can have poorer natural water quality.

A dug well is a hole in the ground dug by shovel or backhoe. A dug well is excavated below the groundwater table until incoming water exceeds the digger’s bailing rate. The well is cased with concrete casing to prevent collapse and then covered with a concrete cap. Dug wells are not deep, typically, reaching only 3 to 9 metres below ground. Being shallow, dug wells have a higher risk of contamination.

A well point, also called a sand point or driven point well is a small diameter well made with steel pipes that are threaded together and a well screen at the end which is usually 0.6 to 0.9 metres long. The screen allows groundwater to flow into the well while keeping the surrounding sand out. Because these wells access a shallow water table, they tend to have limited yield and possible water shortages in dry periods. Well points are also more vulnerable to near-surface contamination.

Ultraviolet (UV) light treatment can be used to destroy harmful micro-organisms without the addition of chemicals to your water. The ultra-violet energy attacks the genetic core of harmful microorganisms and rearranges the DNA/RNA, eliminating the micro-organism’s ability to reproduce. Since the microorganisms are not able to reproduce, they will not be able to cause disease.

This treatment device needs filtration prior to the water entering the UV light to remove particles and natural chemicals that give water colour or increase the water’s hardness. Filtration is also needed to remove microbes embedded in dirt particles. Proper filtration will ensure the effectiveness of the UV light treatment.

In most cases, a UV light treatment device is accompanied with a very fine filter, usually a 5-micron pre-filter. It may slow water flow. Regular maintenance is required to ensure that the UV lamp is kept clean.

Drinking water chlorination kills bacteria and viruses and other microbes. It also removes some forms of iron if the water is filtered after chlorination. Water chlorination is effective in killing disease-causing micro-organisms.

This treatment device needs filtration to remove microbes shielded or embedded in dirt particles, including parasites. It is important to handle chlorine carefully and to test chlorine levels. Maintenance of the dosing pump is required.

Ozonation kills most microbes but not cryptosporidium. It can remove organic compounds, including pesticides. Ozonation can also be used in combination with activated carbon filters. This treatment involves ozone being bubbled through the water, breaking down some parasites, all bacteria, and other harmful organic substances.

This system needs filtration to remove microbes embedded in dirt particles including parasites. This treatment device varies in effectiveness depending on application and manufacturer.

Reverse osmosis is a treatment system that removes nitrates, sulphate, hardness, most microbes, dirt particles and small amounts of some pesticides. This system uses a semi-permeable membrane where an applied pressure is used to overcome osmotic pressure.

This treatment system requires pre-filtration and softening of hard water. Lack of filtration can result in plugged membranes.

Water softeners are used to reduce hardness that produces lime deposits on dish-washed items and gives a starched effect on laundry. This system removes calcium, magnesium, and certain other metal cations in hard water. The resulting soft water is compatible with soap and extends the lifetime of plumbing.

This system is not suitable for removing microbes or most chemicals and increased sodium concentration in treated water. Periodic replacement of softener salt and disposal of concentrated salty water are necessary.

Filters rely on small pore size of material to filter dirt, debris, and some bacteria out of water. Ceramic candle filters remove bacteria and parasites, but not viruses. Specifically rated filters should be used to remove very small particles.

Filters should not be used without further treatment. They usually need chlorination or UV light disinfection to remove and inactivate all bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Regular maintenance and replacement for proper operation are required.

These devices remove small amounts of some chemicals and are typically used for removing tastes and odours and reducing trace levels of organic chemicals.

These devices are not suitable for removing minerals or large volumes of chemicals. They must be replaced regularly, and it can be difficult to know when contactors are exhausted. These devices can become a dangerous source of bacteria, and cause taste and/or odour problems if not properly maintained.