Once a year is the baseline. But here’s when you should test like a maniac:
First, after a flood. If your basement looked like a swimming pool, test your well. Ditto for a nearby chemical spill or a giant gasoline truck that crashed nearby.
Second, if you or your family get mystery tummy problems. You know—the runs, the cramps, the “why did I eat that” feeling. Your well might be the culprit.
Third, after any repairs. Did you replace the pump? Crack the casing? Dig a new hole? Test it. Think of it as a “hug” for your water system.
The Weirdest Stuff in Your Water
Here’s a fun fact: private wells can contain radon. Yes, the same gas that makes you think of haunted basements and lung problems. It comes from rocks underground.
Another gem: manganese. It’s a metal that makes water taste like pennies and turns your laundry yellow. Fancy a mustard-colored shirt? No thanks.
And then there’s the classic: total coliform. That’s a fancy word for “poop bacteria.” One test can tell you if a critter died in your well. Yikes.
Private Well Water Testing in Ontario: What Homeowners Should Know
