Kirkton-Woodham Optimist Club to host Water Wise event on February 27 for local well owners to bring well water samples for testing
The Kirkton-Woodham Optimist Club is making it easier for private well owners to get their well water tested. The Optimists are hosting a Water Wise event at Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre, 70497 Road 164, Kirkton on Tuesday, February 27, 2024 between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
Local well owners can pick up a water sample bottle, take a sample of their well water, and then bring the sample to the event to be transported to Huron Perth Public Health for testing.
People can pick up a water sample bottle at Kirkton Market, Kirkton Library or Kirkton Post Office. Or, they can get a water sample bottle at the Optimist Breakfast on February 18 or at the February 27 Water Wise event.
Water sampling and testing is a key step in ensuring water is safe for your, your family, guests, your neighbours, and your community.
The Ausable Bayfield Maitland Valley Source Protection Region began these events in partnership with local public health and the community. They started the events because only about three per cent of residential private wells in this area had their water tested recently.
The idea behind these events is that if water sampling of private wells is made easier, more people will do it.
The local Water Wise events began in August of 2023 with a well water sampling and testing event at the cottage of Beth Ross and John Thompson. Since that time, there have been other Water Wise events hosted by Lions clubs in Goderich, Dublin, Monkton and Londesboro.
The five Water Wise events, so far, have been attended by more than 200 people with more than 500 water sampling bottles distributed and 214 water sampling bottles returned to Huron Perth Public Health for testing.
Other community groups who might be interested in partnering and hosting a ‘Water Wise’ water sampling event can contact Mary Lynn MacDonald, Source Water Protection Program Co-Supervisor, by email (mmacdonald@abca.ca) or by phone (519-235-2610, or toll-free 1-888-286-2610, extension 247).
To learn more, visit the local drinking water source protection best practices web page (https://www.sourcewaterinfo.on.ca/about/best-practices/). Watch the Your Well, Your Responsibility video (with tips on how to protect your well water!) featuring Doug Hocking, Source Protection Committee member.
The region is sharing information about the events on social media with #BestPractices and #WellWise and #WaterWise and #TestProtectMaintain hashtags.
