Private Well Water Safety
Private well owners are responsible for regular water testing to make sure their drinking water is safe. Spring runoff, flooding, heavy rain and high river levels can increase the risk of contamination, particularly for wells near rivers. Private well owners are responsible for maintaining the safety of their water supply.
Manitoba Public Health and the Office of Drinking Water recommend that all private well owners test their drinking water at least once each year, and more often if:
- your well is near a river or surface water where flooding or water intrusion may occur;
- there has been spring snowmelt, flooding, or heavy rainfall; or
- you notice a change in your water’s colour, clarity, odour, or taste.
Subsidized Private Well Testing
Through the Private Well Testing Subsidy Program, Manitoba helps private well owners test their water for harmful bacteria (total coliforms and E. coli).
Private well owners can submit one subsidized sample per year at a cost of $17.67 (tax included) through Duracan Laboratory, located at 862 Dufferin Avenue in Winnipeg.
If bacteria are found:
- the homeowner is notified as soon as possible,
- tap water used for consumptive purposes should be brought to a rolling boil for one minute, or use an alternative safe source such as bottled water,
- instructions are provided on how to safely disinfect the well, and
- a free follow‑up test is offered to confirm the water is safe after treatment.
For questions about the Private Well Testing Subsidy Program, contact Duracan Laboratory at 204‑960‑9995 or www.duracan.ca/contact.
Private well owners may also choose to submit samples to other accredited laboratories in Manitoba; however, the subsidized test rate only applies through Duracan laboratory. A full list of laboratories is available at: www.gov.mb.ca/sd/water/drinking-water/lab.
Additional Resources
More information on private wells, testing, and treatment is available at:
For information on drinking water testing and treatment, visit Manitoba’s private well information website at: www.gov.mb.ca/sd/water/drinking-water/well-videos”
For general drinking water safety questions, contact the Office of Drinking Water at 204‑945‑5762 or odw@gov.mb.ca.
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Spring Safety Tips
With spring and temperatures on the rise, this now leads to some spring hazards that everyone should be aware of as the snow begins to melt.
- R
iverbanks can become unstable in the spring due to snow melt and erosion. - Keep family and pets away from the surfaces and edges of all bodies of water, including water filled ditches, to prevent falling through or into cold and fast flowing water.
- Avoid recreational activities in or around water bodies, especially near ice-covered rivers and streams at this time of year.
- Do not attempt to walk, skate or drive on ice-covered bodies of water.
- Never drive through flooded roads or fast-moving water.
- If you live next to a river or stream, move patio furniture or other objects away from the water’s edge to avoid losing them during potential spring high water.
- Rescuing another person or a pet from icy or fast flowing water is dangerous. If you see someone has fallen in a body of water, call 911 for help immediately.
Winter & Ice Safety
Drowning can occur at any time of year. In fact, every year 1/3 of all drownings in Manitoba occur during the colder months between October and April. Many of these drownings occur on ice and involve recreational snowmobiling.
Below are some great safety tips on Ice Safety and Cold Water Immersion:
- Have trained people test ice thickness.
- Avoid vehicle travel on ice whenever possible.
- Keep away from unfamiliar paths or unknown ice.
- Never go onto the ice alone.
- Before you leave shore, inform someone of your destination and expected time of return.
- Wear a buoyant suit or lifejacket whenever you are on the ice. It could save your life.
- Carry ice picks, ice poles and rope.
- Avoid going on ice at night.
- 1 minute of cold shock, which looks like gasping. Get your breathing back under control.
- 10 minutes of meaningful movement before your body starts to lose effective use of fingers, arms, legs.
- 1 hour before hypothermia causes unconsciousness.