Q:
"I'd like to get my well water tested. What should I
test for?"
A:
Everyone's needs are as unique as their wells.
Essentially, the tests you should get depend on what
questions you want answered, or what information you
need to know to satisfy your peace of mind.
Our
Well Test Packages Information page shows you the
most common tests that well owners tend to request.
That's a good place to start.
As a minimum, we
recommend bacterial (total coliform and E.coli)
analysis, as bacteria is the primary health concern
of drinking water.
If you have a
new well, we also suggest getting a total trace
metals scan, just so you know what metals and
minerals are in your water. For instance, arsenic &
fluoride occur naturally in certain areas along the
coast.
If you have
specific concerns, such as possible septic field
contamination, we would suggest specific additional
tests, such as
nitrate.
Please contact
us at either of our locations so that we can work with
you to customise a test package that addresses your
specific concerns.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"How do I take a water sample?"
A:
Our
Well Sampling Instructions page outlines how to take
a water 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
Satellite Office.)
The amount of
water and sample containers you'll need depends on the
tests you require. Details are provided on our
Well Test Packages Information page.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"My tests are part of 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 ensure
that testing will 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 E. coli. Additional
tests may be needed to ascertain true potability
dependent upon other factors specific to the well/water
source in question.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"Should I be concerned about arsenic in my well water?"
A:
Arsenic is a mineral 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 geological pockets in British Columbia known to
have naturally higher concentrations of arsenic, where
it is sometimes found in well water.
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 exceeding the
Canadian Drinking Water Guideline 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.
For more information, click
here to view the BC Ministry of Water, Land
and Air Protection's fact sheet on arsenic (it will open
in a new window).
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"Should I be concerned about fluoride in my well water?"
A:
Fluoride, a mineral 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.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
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 in the Canadian Drinking Water
Guidelines.
Sodium levels in
groundwater can increase over time as a result of
saltwater intrusion due to overuse.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
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 ageing 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. It does represent serious health and
environmental concerns at high concentrations.
The maximum
acceptable concentration for nitrate-nitrogen in
drinking water is 10 mg/L.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
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), eventually making it 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.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"What are the main differences between a shallow/dug
well vs. a drilled well with respect to health and
drinking water quality?"
A:
With a shallow/dug well, the primary health
concern is bacteria especially if the well has
not been properly constructed. Because they are
generally not very deep, located in permeable material,
and tap into an unconfined aquifer, dug wells are more
vulnerable to surface contamination and sediment
infiltration. Dug wells tend to have lower yields and
are also more prone to run dry in drought situations.
Although drilled wells are generally safer in terms of
protecting the groundwater source (because they often
access an aquifer that is protected by less permeable
material), the main health concern is once again
bacterial contamination.
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.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"I have a deep well, and am wondering how it can test
positive for bacteria?
A:
There are several possible reasons for contamination in
any well:
-
The well and water system
have never been properly disinfected.
-
The well/water system was
not disinfected after repairs or maintenance.
-
Contamination was
introduced by opening the well (i.e. to measure water
depth).
-
There are elevated iron or
sulphur levels, which reduce the effectiveness of bleach
during disinfection.
-
The sampling point location
was clean (whenever possible, the kitchen tap is always
better than a garden hose, outside hose bib or well
head).
-
Contamination was
inadvertently introduced when sampling.
-
The sample container was
not sterile.
-
The structural integrity of
the water system in question is compromised (check to
ensure that the well is capped tightly, there aren't
cracks in the casing, and no vegetation/tree roots have
invaded the well).
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"The lab phoned and said I should boil my water. Can I
use it to 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 2 minutes
first. Water used for cooking, laundry,
washing dishes, or bathing does not need
to be boiled. Filling the sink with very hot water,
adding a small amount of bleach and then letting it cool
before using provides an extra measure of safety. These
additional steps can be taken if bathing infants or
young children. Make sure to allow the water to cool
enough before using.
If you believe
that your water is making you ill, please stop
drinking it, consult a physician & get it tested
immediately.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"Can my pets drink the water if I am on a boil order
advisory?"
A:
Generally, yes. Pets and livestock can tolerate much
higher bacteria loads than humans (i.e. Dogs are happy
to drink out of mud puddles or toilets). The fecal
coliform guideline limit for livestock is 100 CFU
(colony forming units)/100 mL.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"The coliform (bacteria) test results for my well showed
total coliforms that are over the Canadian Drinking
Water Guidelines limit, but no E.coli. Is my water
unsafe to drink?"
A:
Health Act standards state that 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.
The presence of
total coliforms in your well water is an indicator; it
implies that because bacteria are present, there is a
problem and a risk that other more harmful bacteria may
exist in or enter into the water. This is why we issue
a boil water advisory and recommend
disinfecting the water system
immediately.
For a second
opinion and/or further advice, we recommend speaking
with your local branch of the
Vancouver Island Health Authority.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"I've just disinfected my well with bleach, and now it's
worse. Why?"
A:
If you have a higher bacteria count than what you
had before you shocked/disinfected your water system, it
may be for the following reasons:
-
There are elevated organics
(i.e. biofilms) in your system, which reduce the
effectiveness of bleach to disinfect. This is a common
problem with water systems that haven’t been disinfected
in the last year.
-
The entire water system was
not exposed to the bleach solution for at least 24
hours.
-
A step in the disinfection
process was missed (i.e. not enough bleach used).
-
The well was shocked when
the water level was low and recontamination has occurred
from contact with the unbleached surface higher in the
well.
-
The well system was
re-opened and inadvertently re-contaminated after
disinfection.
-
The structural integrity of
the water system is compromised (check that the well is
capped tightly, there aren't any cracks in the casing,
and that no vegetation/tree roots have invaded the
well).
-
The aquifer your well
accesses is contaminated.
If you notice
more sediment or particles in your water after
disinfecting, it's likely that the addition of bleach to
your water has caused some dissolved minerals to
precipitate out. Your water will eventually return to
normal and these should disappear in time.
Also, during
flushing of the well, sediment may have been stirred up;
this is especially the case if the well ran dry when
flushing out the bleach.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
Q:
"I want to sell water or a product containing my water;
or, I run a place where the public is using my water -
what do I need to test for?"
A:
Please contact your local Vancouver Island Health
Authority to find out exactly what they require in terms
of testing. North Island Labs can then customise
analyses to suit your specific needs.
QUESTION LIST (TOP)
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:
1.
"What specific water quality characteristics will impact
the system's effectiveness?";
and
2.
"What routine
maintenance (time and cost) does this particular system
require?"
Once you have
installed a filtration system, we can tailor water test
packages to help you monitor how well it is working.
