Environment

Province providing free testing of private well water for those affected by flooding (08/05/14)

NB 725

May 14, 2008

FREDERICTON (CNB) - Free well water testing will be conducted for New Brunswick residents who have been affected by recent flooding along the St. John River.

Those eligible for the program include private well owners whose wells were directly affected by flood waters, as well as municipal homeowners whose plumbing was compromised and who had their water shut off at the curb. Municipal homeowners should contact their municipality for this service.

Starting May 20, the Department of Environment will test water quality of private wells at no charge, provided the properties are within directly affected areas. Water samples will be sent to the provincial lab in Fredericton for testing, and results of bacterial analysis will be made available to well owners.

In order to be safe and avoid health risks, private water supplies affected by flooding should not be used until they have been disinfected and tested. Until tests indicate a safe water supply, water for drinking and personal use should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute, then stored in clean cupboard containers. In addition, private well owners who suspect any other type of chemical contamination (for example, furnace oil, gasoline, or agricultural chemicals) should contact their nearest regional Department of Environment office for followup.

Since well water samples cannot be taken or analyzed until the water has been flushed of chlorine, the Department of Environment recommends that well owners follow these steps:

• 10 days after water has receded in your area, chlorinate your well using the Department of the Environment guide entitled How to Chlorinate Your Well Water. This document may be found online at http://www.gnb.ca/0009/0371/0010/index-e.asp, through regional Environment offices, or by calling 506-453-3700;
• after chlorinating and subsequently flushing your water system, wait seven days before collecting a water sample for analysis;
• sample kits may be obtained from and returned to the locations listed below;
• sample your well water according to kit instructions; and
• ensure that you have your property identification (PID) number (the PID number is found on your property tax bill), and if possible, a well identification number (if the well was constructed in 1994 or after).

Upon receipt at the lab, bacteriological analysis takes about 24 hours. If analysis does not show the presence of bacteria, the Department of Environment will notify private well owners. The Department of Health will be contacted if the lab analysis detects any harmful contamination, and will notify private well owners of the results. All owners of private wells in New Brunswick are advised that their water should be tested twice a year, in the spring and fall, to help ensure that it is safe.

08/05/14

EDITOR'S NOTE: A list of designated pick-up/drop-off locations is attached. MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Wesson, public affairs, Environment, 506-453-3700.

08/05/14