When testing your drinking water quality, there are many components that you may want/need to test for, such as Biological (ie. coliform, E.coli, etc), Total Metals (ie. arsenic, Lead, etc), Chemical (ie. hardness, pH, etc) and Anions (ie. nitrates, sulfates, etc).

Most people’s first concern is biological contamination, E.coli. To understand potential risk from biological contamination, testing may need to happen regularly as the presence of biological contamination can be easily influenced by moving water (both surface and shallow groundwater). This is why Interior Health often recommended to those using surface water (ie. Christina Lake, Kettle River, etc) and water from unconfined aquifers (shallower aquifers that are directly connected to surface sources) to treat their drinking water, protecting themselves from biological contamination.

Water quality testing in the Boundary Region

Talk to your lab to see which tests they are able to complete. For most tests, the lab will send you the containers you need to collect the water in and instructions on the conditions the water sample must meet to ensure accurate test results, including the length of time allowed between taking the sample and getting the sample to the lab for testing.

Y&R Water (Grand Forks):  https://www.yrwater.ca/water-testing.html

Caro Analytics (Kelowna): https://www.caro.ca/

Passmore Labs (Winlaw): http://passmorelaboratory.ca/

Interior Health supports water quality testing for Water Suppliers and Businesses who are required by regulation to complete regular drinking water testing and reporting.

The RDKB does not recommend or endorse any contractor and consulting organizations, these names are provided as information only. If you know of any more water quality testing companies that should be included, please contact [email protected].