Is My Water Safe To Drink?

Many factors can make drinking water unsafe for human consumption. 

First, determine your water source.

If you are on a municipal supply, rest assured that your drinking water is most likely disinfected and regularly tested for contaminants to ensure it is safe to drink. Homes on municipal supplies are generally in urban areas.

A community water system is a water well that supplies three or more homes. In British Columbia, provincial law states that the owners of these systems are required to perform and report the results received from regular bacteria testing.

Many rural homes in B.C. receive their drinking water from a private water well. The only way to determine if this water is safe to drink is to have it tested for full potability. A potability test can only be performed by a provincially-certified lab. These labs test your water for a number of factors, including bacteria and certain chemicals, and then issue a legally-binding certificate that states it is safe to drink.

Contaminants, such as, bacteria, E. Coli, coliforms, and nitrates, and inorganic, such as sulphide and heavy metals can make drinking water unsafe to drink. The Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines set limits on the maximum allowable for safe drinking water.

If you are unsure of the source of your drinking water, contact your municipal government. They should be able to determine if you are on their supply from your street address.

If you are on a well, remember a water analysis must be performed to determine what equipment, if necessary, is needed to treat your drinking water. A Certified Water Specialist can make effective recommendations for treatment and custom-design a system that best meets your needs.