Rural Properties and Well Water Testing

When you are selling a rural property now, more than ever, you must cover your bases to protect your buyers and sellers. Since the Walkerton situation a few years ago, the province has taken an agressive stance to ensure safe water for all of us. Clean drinking water is no longer an assumed.

When listing a rural property with a well, the prudent thing to do is take a water sample right away. You can get a well sample bottle (the only sample bottle acceptable)at Waterloo Region Public Health located at 99 Regina Street South in Waterloo (3rd floor) or at 150 Main Street, Cambridge (Main floor) between 8:30 and 4:30 Mon-Fri. You can also pick one up at the Township Offices during regular business hours. Water samples must be filed in the name of the property owner and their address. Samples done through an agent and their address are unacceptable.

Take your water samples into those two main locations early in the day to ensure they get to London for testing the same day. Results are mailed back to your Seller quickly at the address specified on the form.

Locally, tests are sent to London daily for testing. For accurate results, you should either take the sample early in the morning before submission, or late the day before, and refrigerate. Property owners are encouraged to take test 3 times a year, but we usually find out that this is not the case. Make sure you let the water run for a while before taking the sample.

Tests are required by the buyer, not only for peace of mind, but usually the Mortgage Company requires it as a condition of financing. Tests are done for bacteria, including total coliforms, and E. Coli bacteria. Normally, an acceptable clean test in the time range around closing meets the condition for the agreement.

Should the results come back with unsatisfactory results, the problem needs to be rectified. In the situation of a poorly maintained well, it may require a well disinfection to "shock" the well. This is a relatively complicated exercise that requires care and skill. The Seller should seek help from the local authorities. Often, after a shocking treatment, the second water test comes back with a good report.

If a satisfactory test result is unattainable, there are other options. Chlorinators, ultra violet light filters, distillers, and ozonators are options. But, of course, these options cost money and somebody has to pay. That's why it is important to look at the test results when you are listing the property. It makes for less surprises later on. If the buyer is going to have to deal with unacceptable water, then the issue becomes part of the negotiation into the sale price.