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 Welcome to our FAQ page, which answers some of the most common questions we receive at North Island Labs. Just click on a question in the list below, and you will be directed to the answer. If you have a specific question that is not included here, please contact us and we'll be glad to help you.
 Q: "I'd like to get my well water tested. What should I test for?" A: Everyone's information needs are as unique as their wells themselves. Essentially, the tests you should get depend on what questions you want answered, or what information you need to know. Our Test Packages Information page shows you the most common testing options that North Island Labs has to offer. That's a good place to start.
At a minimum, we usually recommend bacterial (total and fecal coliform) analysis, as bacteria is the primary health concern when it comes to drinking water.
If you have a new well, we also suggest getting a total trace elements scan, just so you know what metals and minerals are in your water.
If you have concerns about possible septic field contamination, we would suggest testing your well water for nitrate as well as bacteria.
 Q: "How do I take a water sample?" A: Our Sampling Instructions page gives you the step-by-step process on how to take a sample, and how to transport it afterwards. Please note that samples should arrive at our lab in Courtenay within 24 hours of their collection. (It is important to keep this timeframe in mind if using our Nanaimo Drop-Off Station.) The amount of water and type of sample containers you'll need (which depends on the tests you require) are detailed on our Test Packages Information page.
Q: "I'm involved in a mortgage transaction. What test(s) do I need?" A: It is our understanding that bacterial analysis of drinking water is sufficient to meet the requirements of potability testing as specified by CMHC/other financial institutions. It is recommended that parties requesting drinking water testing as directed by a third party determine exactly what tests are necessary to meet any specific requirements.
Please be aware that a sample taken shortly after a well has been disinfected with bleach may not be representative of long-term water quality.
Bacterial analysis includes both total and fecal coliforms, at a cost of $32.10 (including GST). Additional analyses may be appropriate to ascertain true potability dependent upon other factors specific to the well/water source in question.
Q: "Should I be concerned about arsenic in my well water?" A: Arsenic is a chemical that is found naturally in rocks (primarily bedrock) and can only be detected through chemical tests, as it has no taste or smell. There are several geographical pockets in British Columbia known to have naturally higher concentrations of arsenic (mainly on the mainland, including Powell River, the Gulf Islands, and in the BC interior), although it is sometimes found in individual wells.
Arsenic is a known poison and carcinogen, causing an increased risk of gastrointestinal problems, difficulty swallowing, muscle numbness or pain, cardiac failure, and cancers of the skin, kidney, liver, or lung.
Drinking water containing arsenic levels beyond the Canadian Drinking Water Guideline of 0.025 mg/L should not be used for drinking or food preparation.
If your well is located in an area where bedrock is common, or where infiltration or runoff from past mining activities is known to occur, you may want to test your water for arsenic.
 Q: "Should I be concerned about fluoride in my well water?" A: Fluoride, a chemical that occurs naturally in many types of rock, is beneficial to
human health in low concentrations, particularly in preventing tooth decay. However, there are several areas in British Columbia known to have naturally high levels of fluoride.
Since fluoride is something we are exposed to every day in our diets (through drinking water and other means), it is generally not a health concern. However, too much fluoride can cause a
condition called dental fluorosis, which discolours teeth and alters tooth enamel. At even higher intakes, fluoride can cause bone changes, or skeletal fluorosis, which makes
people more susceptible to joint pain, decreased mobility, and increased risk of bone fractures.
The maximum acceptable concentration of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5 mg/L. You may especially want to test your well water for fluoride if young children are drinking the water,
as they tend to consume greater quantities relative to their body weight.
Q: "Should I be concerned about sodium in my well water?" A: Sodium is not considered harmful at typical intake levels from food and water sources,
as it is a key element of human health.
It is primarily a health concern for those with medical conditions (i.e. high blood pressure, heart disease, or kidney problems) where salt intake should be limited. For most people, it is
generally an aesthetic concern. As such, the aesthetic objective of sodium in drinking water has been set at 200 mg/L.
Sodium levels in groundwater can increase over time as a result of saltwater intrusion.
Q: "Should I be concerned about nitrate in my well water?" A: Nitrates are a relevant concern if you are located near farms or in highly populated areas
with aging septic fields (older than 20 years). Nitrates are the result of septic decomposition, and can travel further in groundwater than fecal coliforms. Nitrates are also associated with fertilizers
and agricultural runoff.
Nitrate has no scent or taste, and is generally considered non-toxic. However, at high concentrations it does represent serious health and environmental concerns. It can harm infants (especially those
under six months old) by affecting the ability of their blood to transport oxygen, resulting in methaemoglobinaemia, or "blue baby syndrome," which can be fatal in extreme cases.
The maximum acceptable concentration for nitrate-nitrogen in drinking water is 10 mg/L.
Q: "What is saltwater intrusion, and when is it a relevant concern?" A: Saltwater instrusion occurs when excessive pumping of groundwater, generally near coastlines,
causes saltwater to infiltrate into freshwater aquifers (and in turn, wells), making it unpotable (undrinkable).
Saltwater can corrode pipes and fixtures, as well as adversely affect nearby vegetation and agricultural lands.
To control the problem, wells should be monitored and/or relocated away from areas where they could be invaded by saltwater. Users should also take care to limit consumption of their groundwater to
allow adequate time for recharge to help preserve their freshwater source.
A: With a shallow/dug well, the primary health concern is bacteria (total and fecal coliforms),
especially if the well has not been lined with some sort of casing (concrete, wood, stone, brick, or metal). Because they are generally not very deep, located in permeable material, and tap into an
unconfined aquifer, dug wells are more vulnerable to surface water contamination and sediment infiltration. Dug wells tend to have lower yields and are also more prone to dry out in drought situations.
Although drilled wells are generally safer in terms of protecting the groundwater source (because they are often created through less permeable material, like rock), the main health concerns are once
again, total and fecal coliforms (contrary to popular belief, drilled wells can still have bacteria problems), arsenic, and fluoride.
Regardless of the type of well, the Ministry of Health recommends that well users test their water periodically to ensure it is safe to drink.
Q: "I have a deep well, and wonder why I got such poor bacteria test results?" A: There are several possible reasons for contamination in any well:
Q: "The lab phoned and said I should boil my water. Can I brush my teeth?" A: When a drinking water system has bacterial contamination, the recommendation to boil your water is given as a health precaution.
In this situation, any water used for drinking, washing foods,
brushing teeth, or making ice should be boiled for at least 1 minute (preferably 5 minutes) first.
Water used for cooking, washing clothes, washing dishes, or bathing does not need to be boiled.
If someone believes that their water is making them ill, they should stop drinking it, get it tested, and consult a physician immediately.
Q: "Can my pets drink the water if I am on a boil order?" A: Generally, yes. Pets and livestock can tolerate much higher bacteria loads than humans
(i.e. some dogs drink out of mud puddles or toilets).
The fecal coliform guideline limit for livestock is 100 CFU (colony forming units)/100 mL.
A: Unfortunately, there's no easy answer to this question. By Health Act standards, if total coliforms are equal to or greater than 1, then technically your water is not potable,
and you are at risk of becoming ill if you continue to drink your water without boiling it first. Please keep in mind that the very young, elderly, or chronically ill are much more susceptible to becoming
ill from repeated exposure to total coliforms.
Realistically, however, it's hard to say if your water is unsafe to drink, since total coliforms are naturally occuring in soils and vegetation. There is no "normal" when it comes to total coliforms in wells.
The presence of total coliforms in your well water is an indicator; it implies that because bacteria are present, there is a risk, however remote, that more harmful conditions exist in the water. This is why we recommend disinfecting wells with bleach and testing again for coliforms
at least 7-10 days later, to see if the problem is one-time or recurrent.
For a second opinion and/or further advice, we recommend speaking with your local branch of the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
A: If a treated drinking water sample contains more than 200 non-coliform bacteria, the water should be re-sampled and/or the system should be disinfected immediately. The system should be inspected
to determine possible causes, if the problem persists.
Non-coliform bacteria are considered non-pathogenic and generally do not represent an immediate health concern to most healthy adults. However, they can be a concern for the very young, elderly, or anyone undergoing intensive medical treatment.
People will react differently to repeated exposure to elevated levels of bacteria.
Non-coliform bacteria serves as a red flag; therefore, an alternative source of drinking water and immediate disinfection of the water system is strongly recommended to completely ensure safety. The presence of non-coliform bacteria indicates that bacteria WERE introduced or ARE getting into the water system.
If you have specific health concerns, be sure to tell your doctor.
Q: "I've shocked my well with bleach, and now it's worse. Why?" A: If you have a higher bacteria count than you had before you shocked/disinfected your water system,
it may be for the following reasons:
If you notice more sediment and particles in your water, it's likely that the addition of
chlorine to the water caused some dissolved minerals to precipitate out of the water, and they are now visible. They will settle out and disappear in time.
Also, during the flushing and refilling of the well, sediment was likely stirred up; this is typically the case if the well ran dry while flushing out the bleach.
A: Please contact the appropriate regulatory body to find out exactly what they require in terms of testing. North Island Labs can then customise analyses to suit your specific needs. Q: "What kind of water filtration system should I get?" A: We recommend talking directly to a manufacturer/retailer to determine what type of system
will best suit your needs.
Treat the purchase as carefully as if you are buying a car, and be sure to ask lots of questions, such as: Once you have installed a filtration system, North Island Labs can tailor water test packages to help you monitor how well it is working.
Q: "I have a jug-style (i.e. BRITA) filter that I use for drinking water. How effective is it?" A: Carbon filters such as these are good for removing large particles and some minerals. However, they do not necessarily
improve bacteriology; in fact, bacteria levels may be amplified if the filter is not properly maintained and the source water has bacterial contamination to begin with.
It is very important to replace your filter regularly (according to manufacturer's recommendations), and to store your jug-style filter in the fridge.
Furthermore, the BRITA website states with respect to using well water in their pitchers: "The BRITA water filters used in BRITA pitchers are intended to be used only with municipally treated tap water or well water that is regularly tested to be microbiologically safe."
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