Renfrew Public Health is reminding those affected by the flooding to get your well water tested.
The group was at the Eganville Flood Meetings and were distributing information on how to test your water for harmful bacteria. Bottles can be obtained from a municipal office or Public Health Offices. Once you have your water sample bottle, they ask you to follow the instructions carefully and fill out a form. Bottles have a special chemical within them to neutralize the sample and enable testing, so Public Health urges to not to rinse the bottles out. Water should run for four minutes on cold before filling the bottle. They say to keep the sample refrigerated but not frozen. A form also comes with the bottle and must be filled out.
Samples can be dropped off at Pharmasave in Barry’s Bay, The Laurentian Hill’s Town Office, and the Health Unit Offices in Pembroke and Renfrew. Once the samples are in, a report will be mailed to you after 7-10 days. The sample can also be picked up from the testing area in Ottawa at 2380 St. Laurent Blvd. For more information, call the Renfrew District Health Unit at (613) 432-5853.