Province clarifies stance - Says Private Well Water Testing Will Continue

Jeff Green | Apr 17, 2024

The Ontario Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, said during Question Period at Queen's Park yesterday (April 16) that the Province of Ontario will continue to provide free well water testing for rural households.

In December,  an Auditor General's report into Public Health Ontario (PHO), recommended that the agency "phase out private well water testing". Public Health Ontario accepted the recommendation and said it would work with the Ministry of Health to implement the recommendation.

Since then, questions have been circulating among rural municipalities, the media, and Public Health Units, about the governments intentions regarding private well water testing.

“Let me be as clear as I can possibly be", Jones told the House, "There is no one in the Province of Ontario or in this Legislature who believes that putting well water testing at risk is on the table. I want to be very clear on that matter. Of course, the Ministry of Health funds Public Health Ontario to provide testing services for individuals who rely on private drinking water systems to serve households. We all know that. The ministry has not made any decisions about changes to the provincial well water testing program, including which laboratories conduct testing of water samples.

"I want to be very clear: There have been no changes. People who want to get their well water tested—and there are thousands across rural Ontario, including in my own riding—take those tests to their public health unit. They get tested. They get those results. That continues."

A Ministry of Health release accompanying her statement, added that "The Ministry of Health funds Public Health Ontario (PHO) to provide testing services for individuals who rely on private drinking water systems to serve a single household. The ministry has not made any decisions about changes to the provincial well-water testing program; including which laboratories conduct testing of water samples."