Homeowner Information & Resources
This collection of resources provides information related to questions commonly received from private homeowners and members of the public. Information related to water testing, home treatment systems, wells, source water protection and water related emergencies can be found here.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Water Testing
- Well Water Testing (Private Drinking Water) – Public Health Units provide testing for the presence of the bacterial indicators of contamination, E. coli and total coliforms in private drinking water systems.
- Public Health Units – Find your local Public Health Unit in this directory for information on local water testing programs.
- Testing Your Water – A video demonstrating how to collect a water sample for the Public Health Unit’s bacterial indicator testing program.
- List of Licensed Labs – A directory of labs licensed to test drinking water in the province of Ontario if you would like to pay for private testing.
- Drinking Water Quality – Indicator Bacteria (Total Coliforms and E. Coli) – A fact sheet describing the Public Health Unit’s test for bacterial indicators of contamination.
- How Do I Get My Drinking Water Tested? – A fact sheet made by the Walkerton Clean Water Centre summarizing how a homeowner can go about testing their water.
- Instructions for well owners who have e. coli and total coliforms in their well sample results – Public Health guidance for unacceptable test results.
- Testing and Treating Private Water Wells – A Government of Ontario guide for private well owners.
- Well Aware booklet – Guides you through the life cycle of a well, how to maintain your well, and shows you how your well affects water quality.
- Well Water Contaminants of Concern – Information on common groundwater contaminants from Wellowner.org.
Home Water Treatment
- A Guide to Drinking Water Treatment Technologies for Household Use – A fact sheet produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the effectiveness of point-of-use or point-of-entry drinking water treatment technologies for household use against different contaminants.
- A Guide to Water Filters – This guide was produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for filtering tap water (previously treated water).
- Choosing Home Water Filters & Other Water Treatment Systems – This guide was produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Contaminant Reduction Claims Guide – This guide was produced by NSF International who certifies purification systems designed to reduce contaminants. This directory shows which systems they have certified to reduce lead, arsenic, bacteria, cysts, viruses, chlorine, chloramine, chromium, fluoride, nitrate/nitrite, PFOA/PFOS, trihalomethanes and volatile organic compounds.
- Do I Need to Use Certified Products or Materials for my Drinking Water? – A Walkerton Clean Water Centre fact sheet providing information on how to select plumbing products and treatment systems for your drinking water at home.
- Drinking Water Safety – Cisterns – A fact sheet produced by Haldimand and Norfolk Health and Social Services about maintaining, cleaning and disinfecting a cistern.
- Drinking Water Treatability Database – Presents referenced information on the control of contaminants in drinking water. After selecting ‘Find a Contaminant’ you will find a ‘Treatment Processes’ tab that lists the treatment processes with literature on the log or percent removal, water quality conditions and operational parameters references in the ‘Data’ tab.
- Hard Water at Home – A homeowner’s guide to hard water and similar issues produced by a real estate company.
- Home Water Treatment System Selection – A guide for selecting a home water treatment system produced by NSF International.
- Rainwater Collection – Tips and information for homeowners interested in collecting rainwater to conserve resources by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Ultimate Guide to Well Water Treatment – A guide to understanding well water and possible methods of treatment written by a plumber.
Plumbing
- Flushing Your Home: How to Flush an Entire House Plumbing System– A step-by-step guide produced by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to flush the plumbing in your home.
- How Much Water Does a Leaky Toilet Waste? – A video experiment showing you how much water is wasted by a leaky toilet in your home.
- How to Drain Your Water Heater – Step-by-step instructions produced by the District of Columbia for draining your water heater.
- How to Find Your Water Shut Off Valve – This video demonstrates how to locate and operate your water shut off valve to prevent further water damage during an emergency.
- How to Fix a Bathtub Faucet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to replace a leaky cartridge in a bathtub faucet.
- How to Fix a Double-Stem Faucet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to fix a leaky double-stem faucet.
- How to Fix a Leaky Toilet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to fix a leaky toilet.
- How to Fix a Single-Stem Faucet with EPCOR’s Blue Bucket Crew – Step-by-step video instructions to fix a leaky single-stem faucet.
- How to flush your own (drinking water) pipes at home – A video made by the Green Bay Utility demonstrating how to flush all the plumbing in a typical home.
- How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System and Plumbing Products – A fact sheet produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for sourcing lead free certified products to be used for drinking water systems.
- How to Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing – A video demonstrating how to prevent frozen water lines to keep the water flowing in your home.
- Do I Need to Use Certified Products or Materials for my Drinking Water? – A Walkerton Clean Water Centre fact sheet providing information on how to select plumbing products and treatment systems for your drinking water at home.
- How to Install a Water Softener– A video produced by US Water Systems providing general directions for installing a water softener.
Water Meters
- How to Read Your Water Meter: Automated Model – A video demonstrating how to read your automated water meter.
- How to Read Your Water Meter: Dial Model (Manual)– A video demonstrating how to read your manual dial-type water meter.
Wells
View these other posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
- Private Wells
- Well Aware and Well Wise Program Resources for Homeowners
- Wells Help Desk and Well Records in Ontario
- Well Construction and Licensing
Source Water Protection
View this post on the WCWC online library for more information.
Emergency Disinfection
- Chlorine Dilution Calculator
- Disinfecting Wells After a Disaster
- Well Disinfection Tool
- What to do After the Flood
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Lead in Drinking Water
The following links provide information regarding lead in drinking water and how to minimize exposure through line replacement, flushing, treatment and sampling programs.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Guidance Document for Public Consultation
Community Communication
- Communicating about Lead Service Lines
- Daily cleaning tips to clean your home’s drinking water pipes
- Drinking water: What about lead?
- Finding lead pipes
- How to clean your faucet aerator
- How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products
- How to know if you have a lead water pipe
- How to replace your lead pipes
- How to test your water for lead
- Information for Property Owners about Lead Water Service Line Replacement
- Lead Communications
- Lead and Drinking Water: Talking with Your Community
- Lead in Drinking Water: Fact Sheet
- Together, Let’s Get the Lead Out!
- Water Filter Guide
Lead Service Line Replacement
- Approaches to Lead Service Line Replacement
- Collaborating to Replace Lead Service Lines Webinar: Filter Effectiveness
- Communicating about Lead Service Lines
- Coordinating and Implementing Replacement of Lead Service Lines
- Digging Deep – Searching Decades of National Records to Find Lead Service Lines and Goosenecks
- Encouraging Customer-Initiated LSL Replacement Webinar: Two Case Studies
- Engaging Communities in Planning and Communicating about LSL Replacement Webinar
- Equity Considerations in LSL Replacement Programs Webinar
- High‐Velocity Household and Service Line Flushing Following LSL Replacement
- How to check your water service line material
- How to Identify Lead Free Certification Marks for Drinking Water System & Plumbing Products
- Identifying Service Line Material
- Implications for Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water Rule
- Information for Property Owners about Lead Water Service Line Replacement
- Intensive flushing to clean your home’s drinking water pipes following a LSL replacement
- Introduction to Lead and Lead Service Line Replacement
- Lead in Water and Full Lead Service Line Replacement
- Lead Service Line Identification and Replacement: Introduction to the Series
- Lead Service Line Replacement Collaborative
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Funding
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Legal Factors
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Outreach Materials
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Plan Development
- Lead Service Line Replacement Practices
- Lead Service Line Replacement: Vital Tips from Leading Utility Managers
- Lead Service Lines Frequently Asked Questions
- Managing Lead in Drinking Water
- Managing Lead in Pipe Scales – Understanding How Water Quality Affects Lead Release
- Mapping Lead Service Lines: Charting a Path to Engage a Community Webinar
- Mapping Lead Service Line Probability in Small Water Systems
- Preparing a Lead Service Line Inventory
- Q&A from Lead Service Line Replacement: Vital Tips from Leading Utility Managers
- RCAP, Small Water Systems and Lead Service Line Inventories Webinar
- Replacing lead service lines at Denver Water
- Replacing Lead Service Lines in Early Learning Environments Webinar
- Strategies to Obtain Customer Acceptance of Complete Lead Service Line Replacement
- Understanding Lead Service Line Replacement Techniques
- Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water
Managing & Minimizing Exposure
- 3Ts for Child Care Facilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- 3Ts for Public Water Utilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water Toolkit
- 3Ts for Tribal Schools: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- Aggregation of Lead Phosphate Particles: Implication for Lead Removal in Tap Water
- Chloride to Sulfate Mass Ratio and Galvanic Connection Changes – Impact on Lead Leaching
- Daily cleaning tips to clean your home’s drinking water pipes
- Finding lead pipes
- Flint Water Crisis: Can It Happen in Canada?
- Guidance on Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
- Guide for Small Community Water Suppliers and Local Health Officials on Lead in Drinking Water
- How to clean your faucet aerator
- Identify and Remove Sources of Lead
- Identifying Service Line Material
- Intensive flushing to clean your home’s drinking water pipes
- Lead and Copper Corrosion: An Overview of WRF Research
- Lead and Copper Corrosion Control in New Construction
- Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring and Reporting Guidance for Public Water Systems
- Lead and Copper Rule Potential Regulatory Changes, Corrosion Chemistry, and Stakeholder Communication
- Lead and Copper Rule Revisions White Paper
- Lead & Water Quality
- Lead in Drinking Water: Homes and Schools
- Lead in School Drinking Water: Approaching a Public Health Issue from an Occupational Hygiene Perspective
- Lead (IV) Oxide Formation and Stability in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
- Lead Safe Toolkit for Home-Based Child Care Webinar Series – Lead in Drinking Water
- Minimize Your Risk of Lead Exposure
- Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment Evaluation Technical Recommendations
- Poisoned Pipelines: What Can Be Learned from the Catastrophe in Flint, Michigan?
- Proposed Revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule
- Public Health and Industry: Partners In Reducing Lead Exposure
- Use of Lead Free Pipes, Fittings, Fixtures, Solder, and Flux for Drinking Water
- Water Filter Guide
- When to Make a Corrosion Control Treatment Change
Sources of Lead in Drinking Water & Health Information
- Basic Information about Lead in Drinking Water
- Childhood Lead Exposure
- Drinking water: What about lead?
- Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality for Lead
- Is there Lead in my Drinking Water? Brochure
- Lead & Copper
- Lead Fact Sheet
- Lead in Drinking Water Fact Sheet
- Lead in Drinking Water – NSF Certified Filters
- Sources of Lead in Drinking Water
- Sources of Lead: Water
- Water Talk – Lead in drinking water
Standards
- AWWA C810-17 REPLACEMENT AND FLUSHING OF LEAD SERVICE LINES
- INTERNAL CORROSION CONTROL AND LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT DVD
- M58 INTERNAL CORROSION CONTROL IN WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, SECOND EDITION
Testing
- 3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities: A Training, Testing and Taking Action Approach
- Assessing Portable Analyzers for Lead Testing in School Drinking Water
- Evaluation of Lead Line Sampling Strategies
- Lead Sampling Protocols for School Drinking Water
- Testing for Lead In School Drinking Water: A Summary of Sampling Protocols
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List of Laboratories Licensed to Perform Drinking Water Testing in Ontario
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks provides a list of laboratories licensed to perform drinking water tests in Ontario. Prior to submitting samples please contact the licensed laboratory to determine if samples will be accepted. Some laboratories will not accept samples from external clients. The full, up-to-date list can be found at the link below.
List of Licensed Laboratories
WCWC has assembled an interactive map to assist with finding a laboratory based on the type of sample being analyzed and geographic location. Different layers on the map show locations that can test for microbiological, organic chemical, inorganic chemical, radiological or physical parameters. This map was prepared from the list updated online as of June 8, 2022. This map can be viewed below.
List of Laboratories Licensed to Perform Drinking Water Testing in Ontario map
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water or view these similar posts.
Homeowner Information and Resources
Small Drinking Water Systems Resources
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Well Aware and Well Wise Program Resources for Homeowners
Well Aware
Well Aware was a program of Green Communities Canada that encouraged Ontario’s residential well owners to protect their wells and our common groundwater supplies.
Since 2001, Well Aware has helped more than 3,900 Ontarians to gain confidence in the management of their wells and to protect their family’s drinking water. An additional 217,000 residents have benefited from our Well Aware booklet, “A Guide to Caring for your Well.”
Well Aware Booklet – A Guide to Caring for Your Well
Well Wise
The Well Wise Water Testing Program is administered by the Ontario Ground Water Association for consumers and well contractors.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Disponible en français.
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Wells Help Desk & Records in Ontario
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) operates a public Wells Help Desk to help ensure that information is available to the public. The Wells Helps Desk also receives and forwards well complaints to the appropriate ministry office, answers general questions on wells, assists well owners to locate their well record and assists the well industry sector in obtaining licenses, well record forms and well tags (MECP, 2021).
MECP Wells Help Desk
Mailing Address:
Wells Help Desk
Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
125 Resources Road
Toronto ON M9P 3V6
Phone: Toll-free: 1-888-396-WELL (9355)
Fax: 1-416-235-5960
Email: wellshelpdesk@ontario.ca
Well Records & Requests
How to complete, submit or get a copy of a well record.
Well Records Open Data Catalog
Information and rules for residential well owners, including the proper location, construction, maintenance and abandonment of a well can be found at Wells on your property.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
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Valves
The following links provide information regarding different types of valves found commonly in water applications.
WSO Water Distribution Grades 1 & 2: Valves, Ch. 9
Air Valves
Flow regime identification for air valves failure evaluation in water pipelines using pressure data
Control Valves
New and Exciting Capabilities of Modern Control Valves
Backflow Prevention Devices
Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention
Cross Connection and Backflow Prevention Poster
WSO Water Distribution Grades 1 & 2: Backflow Prevention Devices, Ch. 19
Homeowner Info
Getting to Know Your Main Water Shut-Off Valve
Opening and Closing Valves
How to Collapse a Pipe by Closing a Valve
Repairing Distribution Line Breaks
Wells
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
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Private Wells
This post provides information to homeowners related to operating and maintaining their private water supply wells.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Water Supply Wells: Requirements and Best Practices – Best management practices and recommended techniques that help a person constructing a well to go beyond the minimum standards set by the Ontario Wells Regulation and better protect and minimize adverse impacts to our environment.
Best Management Practices: Water Wells – A hardcopy publication that can be ordered through Service Ontario for well owners. Explains well components, maintenance, new well construction requirements and procedures for unused wells.
Private Well Water Manual – A Quick Users Guide – A manual produced by the Grey Bruce Public Health Unit for homeowners either installing a new well on their property or for those who have questions about an existing well.
Wells on Your Property – Information and rules for residential well owners for the proper location, construction, maintenance and abandonment of a well from the Ministry of the Environment of Ontario.
Water Supply Wells: Technical Bulletins – A series of technical bulletins on well issues created for a person who currently owns a water supply well. The purpose is to summarize the information found in the Water Supply Wells – Requirements and Best Management Practices manual published by the Ministry of the Environment of Ontario.
Well Records – Directions on how to complete, submit or get a copy of a well record in Ontario.
Well Records Map – This map allows you to search and view well record information from reported wells in Ontario.
Be Well Aware, Information for Private Well Owners – The Be Well Aware series will help you take the right steps to protect your well water from bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals that could make you sick. Produced by Health Canada.
Water Well Care Info Sheets – The Water Systems Council has developed a complete library of water well care information sheets to educate well owners about the basics of their well system, the importance of water well maintenance, keeping good records, water well testing and understanding your results, and how to protect and conserve your water supply for years to come.
Well Aware Booklet – A Guide to Caring for Your Well – The Well Aware booklet was compiled by Green Communities Canada, in partnership with the Ontario Ground Water Association, with financial support from Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
Well Aware Video – Since 2001, Well Aware has helped more than 3,900 Ontarians to gain confidence in the management of their wells and to protect their family’s drinking water. This video accompanies the booklet compiled by Green Communities Canada, the Ontario Ground Water Association and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.
Water Well Basics – Knowing the basics about water wells is important whether you are planning a well, are a new well owner, or have owned a well for a long time. Knowing the basics can equip you to make sound decisions about your water well system. Produced by wellowner.org.
Water Well Maintenance – Regular water well system maintenance is important. Knowing and practicing the basics of regular well maintenance can reduce risks to your water supply and prevent costly and inconvenient breakdowns. Produced by wellowner.org.
Groundwater Quality and Quantity – The quality of your water is important. Knowing the basics about water testing and treatment can help you diagnose and address water quality issues-whether they be matters of taste, odor, or appearance, or health risks. Produced by wellowner.org.
Well Owner’s Guide – The National Ground Water Association Well Owners Guide is a comprehensive manual where you’ll find valuable information from proper well construction, routine well maintenance and water testing. Email subscription required for download link.
Buying a Home With a Well – A Water Systems Council fact sheet produced to help prospective or current homeowners make informed decisions when buying a home with a well.
Find Licensed Well Contractors – Use this directory to find licensed well contractors in Ontario.
Free Private Well Training – This program is a collaboration between the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and the Illinois State Water Survey to boost knowledge of well owners and the water professionals that serve well owners day to day.
Learn about Private Water Wells – Information from the US Environmental Protection Agency about types of wells, well components, and selecting new well locations and construction.
Learn About Groundwater – Groundwater is one of our most valuable resources—even though you probably never see it or even realize it is there. There is water somewhere beneath your feet no matter where on Earth you live. This collection is part of a series produced by the United States Geological Survey called Water Science School.
Groundwater and the Rural Homeowner – A report produced by the United States Geological Survey for prospective or current rural homeowners to gain a basic yet comprehensive overview of ground water and problems one may expect to encounter and some solutions.
Overview of Water-related Diseases and Contaminants in Private Wells – A webpage produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listing top causes of outbreaks in individual private wells. Links to more information on specific germs or chemicals can be found on this page.
What to do After the Flood – A fact sheet of emergency procedures for when flood conditions threaten your well produced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Disinfection
Well Disinfection Tool – The well disinfection tool provides an easy way to calculate the amount of chlorine product that is needed to disinfect a well. The tool also provides the procedures and precautions to take when disinfecting the well. Produced by Public Health Ontario.
Chlorine Dilution Calculator– This easy-to-use calculator tells you how much bleach product to dilute with water to get your desired concentration (ppm) of chlorine solution. Produced by Public Health Ontario.
View these similar posts on the WCWC online library for more information.
Homeowner Information and Resources
Well Aware and Well Wise Program Resources for Homeowners
Wells Help Desk and Well Records in Ontario
Well Construction and Licensing
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Iron in Drinking Water
This post provides information on iron in drinking water and reducing iron through treatment options and optimization.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Fact Sheets
- Alternatives for iron removal
- Common Water Problems
- Common Water Solutions
- Home Drinking Water Treatment Devices
- How to Operate and Maintain Manganese Greensand Treatment Units
- Iron & Well Water
- Iron Bacteria & Well Water
- Iron and Manganese Removal
- Iron in Drinking Water
- Sediment & Well Water
- Shock chlorination and control of iron bacteria
Guides
- Guidance on Controlling Corrosion in Drinking Water Distribution Systems
- Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Iron
- Iron in Drinking-Water
- Small Public Water System Technology Guide, Volume I – Iron and Manganese Control
Pilot Testing Reports & Summaries
- Evaluation of Greensand Filtration Operation for the Reduction of Manganese
- Exploring Iron Reduction Options for a Groundwater Source
- Reduction of Iron and Manganese Using Conventional Treatment and Greensand Filtration
- Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
- Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
Presentations
- A Pilot Plant Study to Reduce Iron and Manganese
- Pilot Testing to Reduce Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide Gas
- Reducing Iron in a Groundwater Well
- Reduction of Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide from a Well System
Videos
- EPA Small Systems Webinar: Treatment and Control for Manganese and Iron
- How to analyze iron in a drinking water sample
- Iron and Manganese Treatment
- Remove Iron , Sulfur, Manganese by Oxidation System
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Well Components
These fact sheets describe different well components for learning purposes.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Common Well Components
Well Components: Pressure Switches – pdf (203.8 KiB)
Well Components: Valves – pdf (210.7 KiB)
Well Components: Your Pitless Adapter – pdf (202.6 KiB)
Well Components: Your Well Cap – pdf (202.1 KiB)
Well Components: Your Well Casing – pdf (202.0 KiB)
Well Components: Your Well Pump – pdf (202.5 KiB)
Well Components: Your Well Tank – pdf (202.4 KiB)
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WCWC Helpline FAQs
The Walkerton Clean Water Centre offers a service for Ontario’s owners, operators and operating authorities of drinking water systems and members from the public. Through our helpline, we provide information, education and advice to address questions related to drinking water including treatment processes, equipment, operational requirements and environmental factors.
Below are answers and resources for frequently asked questions we receive. If you can’t find the answer to your question, contact us toll free at 1-855-306-1155 or email us at helpline@wcwc.ca.
Visit our online library’s main webpage to find more resources on topics related to drinking water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to use certified products or materials in my drinking water system?
How do I get my drinking water tested?
How do I know if there is lead in my water?
How do I take care of my cistern?
What are the requirements for hauling potable water?
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