FAQ

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 It is important to choose a lab that is at the very least accredited for the testing you require. All accredited members of CALA are subject to independent audits and peer review in order to ensure competency. We also participate in the proficiency testing program. Twice a year we test blind samples and our results are compared for accuracy and precision to labs across the country. Testing of parameters for which Aztech  Lab is not accredited is subcontracted to accredited labs to provide reliable results in all situations. We strive to provide to most suitable test in a fast economical manner.  

 ​Bacteria are everywhere. Some are good, some cause sickness. Before you buy a home on a well, it is diligent to know what you are drinking. But, it’s too costly to check for every known waterborne pathogen such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery, etc. Instead we look for indicator organisms that dwell alongside these nasty organisms. Where you find indicators, there may be a higher risk of contracting one of these particularly nasty diseases.

The coliform bacteria group is a good indicator and it includes the smaller group E.coli. Some strains of E.coli may cause sickness and specific types can cause death. Most are required for normal bodily function. They are naturally occurring form decay plant and animal matter. E.coli is directly associated with human and animal waste. Therefore, it is logical that surface water (rain water) can pick up these bacteria and carry them directly into a well that is not functioning or located properly.

​There are numerous ways a well can become contaminated. The quick and inexpensive corrective step is to chlorinate with a bleach solution, like Javex. Typically, wells are chlorinated and retested to see if this corrective step worked. Before or during this procedure, check the well for visible signs of possible contamination sources. For example, a well that is poorly located, a cap that is broken or loose, plants growing into the underside of the cap, insects living under the cap, a buried well cap are all issues that should be corrected. If this is done and the well shocking doesn’t correct the problem, a well driller could scope the well with a camera looking for cracks in the casing, a leaky pitless adapter (connection point between the well casing and line that runs to the house). The driller could also determine if the casing has shifted from a frost heave, leaving it seated in the bedrock inappropriately. A well that is located in a depression or next to a leaky septic field should be relocated. A buried well cap could be brought above ground level. These are not all the issues that affect the quality of your well water, but they are great starting points to cover. A well driller or plumber is a good source of information on the required standards for well construction, location and maintenance.

Contact Aztech Lab if you would like to schedule a well shocking and pricing.

 After the sample is collected, it must be tested within 24 hrs. For example, if you collect it on a Sunday night at your cottage, or you can’t get it to the lab the same day, then refrigerate it overnight and submit the next day.  Do not freeze or subject sample to high temperatures for example by leaving it on the car dashboard in on a sunny day. 

You should continue to monitor the bacterial quality by testing on a regular basis. The province recommends it be done twice a year, after the spring thaw and late summer/fall. Any test is only a snapshot of the condition at that particular day. Any good result is not a guarantee that the well will continue to function as tested. Only a baseline of data over time can truly instill confidence in a well. After all, it is only a hole in the ground. Wells should be tested after repairs or reconstruction of the well has been done. Testing should be done if you notice a change in the taste, color or odor. If there are known chemical spills in the vicinity, testing should be done.

 ​Hand dug wells are not recommended as they are usually completely at the mercy of whatever is at ground level. In other words, they can be in direct contact with rain water or surface water. Aztech has observed cases of mice drowning in hand dug wells. Disinfection is only a temporary fix as sooner or later contamination will reoccur. It’s the nature of these types of well construction and the reason new well must be drilled with a minimum depth of casing. If hand dug wells must be used, then we suggest a more permanent treatment such as UV sterilization.