Following extensive flooding in the Southern Interior and Fraser Valley, the province is advising owners of private drinking water wells that their wells may be contaminated, due to the presence of bacteria, chemicals, effluent, etc. carried by overland flood waters.
In flood affected areas, water should be considered “not fit for human consumption” until the well is assessed, and the water is tested and disinfected.
To assist private well owners the Ministry of Health has partnered with Interior Health, Fraser Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory to offer bacteriological testing (i.e., E. coli) for private drinking water wells affected by the recent flooding events.
To qualify for testing, one of the following criteria must be met:
- The well must be located in an area directly impacted by flooding during the 2021 atmospheric river events. This may include those private well owners impacted by an evacuation order or an evacuation alert
- The well is at increased risk of contamination due to an emergency order authorizing an application of liquid manure in the vicinity of their well
For further information regarding what is required and how to pick up testing kits, visit: https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/Private-Well-Testing
