Water testing · 8 min
Private well water testing guide (Canada)
A practical Canadian checklist: what to test on a private well, how often, free vs paid options, and how to turn results into a treatment plan.
- Author
- WaterFilterHelp Editorial Team
- Canadian home-water research and consumer education
- Reviewed by
- WaterFilterHelp Standards Review
- Fact-checked against official Canadian guidance and certification sources
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-23
Looking for a lab or free test option? Find a Water Test · Already have results? Explain your water test · Not sure which system you need? Run the Water Problem Wizard.
Minimum well panel
- Total coliforms and E. coli
- Nitrates
- Hardness
- Iron and manganese
- Sulphur / odour notes
- pH and TDS
Add by risk and region
- PFAS near airports or industry
- Arsenic or uranium on the Shield and in parts of Atlantic Canada
- Lead if premise plumbing is old
- Sodium and chloride near coasts or heavy road salt
How often
Bacteria at least annually — more after floods, well work or illness in the home. Broader chemistry every few years, or whenever you redesign treatment.
Free vs paid
Use public-health bacteria programs where they exist. Pay an accredited lab (Paracel, BV, AGAT, Caduceon, etc.) for chemistry and specialty analytes. Skip relying on free dealer tests for equipment design.
From report to system
Hardness → softener sizing. Iron ppm → oxidation/filtration. Bacteria → UV or other disinfection after clarifying the water. PFAS/lead → certified RO. Run Find a Water Test, then the Water Problem Wizard or a free installer quote.