How To Determine Monitoring Program for Private Residential Drinking Water

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

**
Metal scan to include:

Arsenic, calcium, iron, manganese, barium, chromium, lead, sodium, boron, copper, magnesium, zinc, cadmium

***
BCMOH New Water Source Test includes:
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
Notes:

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.

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