BV opposes recomendation to end water testing

Local Journalism Initiative
·1 min read

Eganville – Bonnechere Valley council is opposing a move to phase out free private well testing.

On Tuesday afternoon, council received a letter from Goderich with a resolution asking for Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson to not proceed with the recommended phase-out of free private well testing in Ontario.

Mayor Jennifer Murphy said she would like to support this resolution.

The testing is for coliforms, bacteria found in animal waste and sewage, as well as E.coli.

“This is so important,” she said. “It is such a simple thing for the province to have through their health units.”

Currently homeowners on wells can pick up and drop off water testing bottles at their local health unit. In some areas, the water can be dropped off at municipal offices as well.

News reports have stated Public Health Ontario (PHO) is planning to phase out free provincial testing for private drinking water. As recently as December 2023, a recommendation was in place to scale down the types of tests offered and gradually phase out private well water testing.

Debbi Christinck, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Eganville Leader

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