Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit offers free water test kits

Water testing can take up to 40 to get results.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMHDU) is reminding residents to test well water at their residences and seasonal properties before consuming.

Free drinking water testing kits are available to residents, in the form of sampling bottles that can be picked up or dropped off at various locations across Simcoe Muskoka.

The SMDHU says, samples should be collected immediately before drop off and tested within 48 hours and it may take up to 24 hours to get the sample to the testing lab.

“Water that looks, smells or tastes normal can still contain harmful bacteria, such as E. coli,” says Karen Kivilahti, SMDHU manager, Safe Water.

“Contaminated water can make people very sick and in some cases can be life-threatening. Regular testing is the only way to know if your water is safe,” Kivilahti says.

The SMDHU says tests should be done frequently, as water quality in wells, cisterns, lake water supplies or other private systems can change over time, due to several different environmental factors and seasonal changes.