Less than 30% of Ontario’s drinking water from private wells was tested last year, auditor general finds
Less than one-third of the 1.3 million Ontario residents who rely on private wells for their drinking water had it tested within the last twelve months, according to a report by the province’s auditor general, Shelley Spence. The report, released on Monday, highlighted the troubling low testing rates among private well owners in Ontario. Spence noted that this lack of testing is partly due to a lack of awareness about the free water testing services available to them, as well as a lack of understanding about the risks associated with drinking untested water.
“It is very concerning because water is part of a flow, so there can be very different sources of water coming into those wells and things can change,” Spence told CBC’s Afternoon Drive. “It is really important for both the owners of small drinking water systems and private wells to get their water tested frequently.”
Private wells, unlike municipal water systems, are not regulated by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), meaning it is the responsibility of the owners to have their water tested. However, a 2021 Statistics Canada survey found that 40 percent of private well owners in Ontario do not treat their water, making the lack of testing even riskier. Studies have suggested that users of private wells are more prone to waterborne illnesses compared to individuals who use municipal systems.
The lack of testing at private wells exposes Ontarians to health risks such as gastrointestinal illness and other serious health effects, including death. It can also result in significant financial costs due to hospitalizations, doctor visits, and lost work days. Contaminants such as E. coli, nitrates, and lead can be present in drinking water, posing both short-term and long-term health effects.
Despite the concerning low testing rates, over the past decade, 98 percent of drinking water tests from non-municipal systems in Ontario have met the province’s Drinking Water Quality Standards. However, the lack of testing at private wells remains a significant issue that needs to be addressed to ensure the safety and well-being of Ontarians.
Aina DeViet, a member of the Middlesex-London Health Unit’s board, emphasized the importance of regular testing for private well owners. She suggested a joint educational effort between health units and municipalities to raise awareness about the importance of water testing and monitoring. DeViet noted that some residents are unaware of how often they should be testing their water and believes that a collaborative approach can help address this issue.
In addition to the lack of testing at private wells, the report also highlighted a backlog in inspections of small drinking water systems by public health units. The Ministry of Health requires PHUs to inspect these systems at least once every four years, but the report found that 52 percent of PHUs did not inspect all systems as required, with some backlogs dating more than five years.
The backlog in inspections is attributed to a lack of inspectors and a heavier workload, as inspectors are also required to inspect municipal sewage and stormwater systems. The report recommended that the Ministry of Health and MECP work together to increase the frequency of inspections and that public health units use their enforcement powers to ensure compliance with testing guidelines.
Overall, the lack of testing at private wells and the backlog in inspections of small drinking water systems pose significant health risks for Ontarians. It is crucial for private well owners to prioritize water testing and for government agencies to take action to ensure the safety of drinking water in the province. Information on testing services can be found at local public health units to help residents access the necessary resources for water testing.
