Why Should You Sample Your Well Water?

Drinking water that has harmful microorganisms in it can make you sick. These microorganisms can give you stomach cramps and/or diarrhea. The water that has these microorganisms in it is unsafe to drink. Some illnesses that can be caused by contaminated water include Salmonellosis, Typhoid Fever, Campylobacteriosis, Verotoxigenic E.coli (E.coli 0157:H7), Shigellosis, Cholera, Dysentery, Hepatitis A, Giardiasis, and Cryptosporidiosis.

Water Quality

Disease Found in Water	Cause (Organism)	Source of Organism	Symptom

Gastroenteritis	Rotovirus (virus) Salmonella (bacteria) Pathogenic E.Coli (bacteria)	Human faeces Animal or human faeces Human faeces	Acute diarrhea or vomiting Acute diarrhea or vomiting Acute diarrhea or vomiting

Typhoid	Salmonella (bacteria)	Human faeces	Inflamed intestine, enlarged spleen, high temperature

Dysentery	Shigella (bacteria)	Human faeces	Diarrhea - rarely fatal

Cholera	Vibrio cholera (bacteria)	Human faeces	Vomiting, severe diarrhea, rapid dehydration- high mortality

Hepatitis	Hepatitis A (virus)	Human faeces, shellfish grown in polluted waters	Yellowed skin, enlarged liver, abdominal pain - low mortality - lasts up to 4 months

Amoebic dysentery	Protozoan (Entamoeba)	Human faeces	Mild diarrhea

Giardiasis	Giardia (parasite)	Animal or human faeces	Diarrhea, cramps, nausea and general weakness - not fatal - lasts 1 to 4 weeks

Cryptosporidiosis	Crypotosporidium (parasite)	Animal or human faeces	Diarrhea, stomach pain - lasts an average of 5 days

How Often Should You Sample Your Well?

If you have not sampled your well for over a year it is recommended that you begin your sampling program by taking three water samples at least one week apart. This will allow you to determine the bacteriological water quality of your well.

Monitoring the water quality of the well is important as the bacteriological quality of the water may vary especially during periods of heavy rainfall. It is recommended that you sample your well at least three times during the year. The samples should be spread out over the year. For example, one could be taken during or immediately following spring melt, one in mid summer and one in the fall.

Developed and produced by Grey Bruce Health Unit.
Revised: Saturday January 19, 2008