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Module 5 — Monitoring and Maintenance of Your Water Well
Non-routine Testing
Non-routine testing is necessary when unusual situations occur. Unexplained illnesses,
obvious contamination situations such as pesticide or hydrocarbon spills, or flooding
are examples. Occurrences on neighboring properties may also provide reason for
non-routine testing. Since specialized testing is expensive, get advice on which parameters
are worth testing.
Sampling
How you collect a water sample is as important as the analysis. Proper sampling bottles
and procedures are required and can be obtained through your local health unit or private
laboratory. Samples not in the proper sampling bottle will not be accepted for testing.
Important considerations are:
Length of time well is pumped prior to sample taken
How sample is stored
Length of time for sample to be delivered to a laboratory.
Collect the sample as close to the well head as possible to avoid any effect the water
treatment or distribution system may have on the sample. If you want to assess the
effectiveness of your treatment system, you will have to take an additional sample.
Interpreting Results
Whenever an analysis is done, you will receive a written copy of the results. Keep this
information in the front pocket of this manual with your other important papers. It helps to
create a history of your well to use for comparison should the water quality ever change.
You can also use the analyses to help you decide whether or not any water treatment
equipment is needed to improve your water quality.
Local health units are responsible for identifying whether water is fit for human
consumption. The Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines published by Health
Canada are used to establish when the parameters exceed established maximum
acceptable concentrations.
Tests for chemical contaminants such
as pesticides, hydrocarbons, etc., require
special arrangements.
Check ahead of time with your local
health unit or private laboratory for
proper sampling procedures and
drop off times.
The “Rural Water Quality Information
Tool” provides For information on
interpreting water quality analysis
results. See Module 12 "Other Resources".