How To Determine Monitoring Program for Private Residential Drinking Water
Single Family:
Untreated Supply
- Annual
- Arrange with a certified laboratory for a coliform test
- 3-5 years
- Arrange with a certified laboratory for a metal scan**
Treated Supply
- Weekly/Monthly
- LOOK at filters & replace if excessively dirty
- Annual
- Arrange with a certified laboratory for coliform + TPC tests
- 3-5 years
- Arrange with a certified laboratory for a metal scan**
Single Family – To Purchase/Sell/Renovation
Untreated Supply
Coliform Test + Metal Scan **
Treated Supply
Coliform + TPC (plus Fe/S or Y/F) + Metal Scan **
Development Properties for Subdivision to Multiple-Single Family Units
Coliform Test + Metal Scan **
- or -
Coliform Test + Metal Scan ** + Total Dissolved Solids, EC, Alkalinity, Chloride, Fluoride, Sulfate, Nitrate, Nitrite
- or -
BCMOH New Water Source Test ***
New Small Water Utility (3+ connections) or Communal Source Supply
(Directly Regulated by BC Health Authority)
BCMOH New Water Source Test ***
Footnotes
Arsenic, calcium, iron, manganese, barium, chromium, lead, sodium, boron, copper, magnesium, zinc, cadmium
- Microbiology
- Total & Fecal Coliforms, E.coli, Iron & Sulfur Bacteria, Total Plate Count
- Metals Scan
- Al,Sb,As,Ba,Be,Bi,Cd,Ca,Cr,Co,Cu,Au,Fe,La,Pb,Mg,Mn,Mo,Ni,P,K,Si,Ag,Na,Sr,Ti,W,V,Zn,Hardness, pH
- Chemistry
- Alkalinity, Ammonia, Chloride, Color, Conductivity, Corrosivity, Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrite, Organic Nitrogen, Sulfate, Total Dissolved Solids, Total Organic Carbon, Turbidity
Always check with the appropriate authority (health office, building inspection, municipality etc) for verification and possible additions to tests appropriate for your area.
Always check to make sure tests are conducted by an approved facility.
This information sheet is the result of a collaboration between VIHA BC Ministry of Health, Municipal Building Inspectors and professionals at MB Laboratories Ltd.