Updated April 2025
In the KLCOA 2021 KENNISIS ALL OF US Survey, we asked members about the primary source of their cottage drinking water. About 60% of us use ground or surface water from wells and the lakes. 35% of us are drinking water from the Kennisis Lakes.
For this reason, it is important to be aware that the safety of your drinking water should be checked at regular intervals.
Drinking water that has harmful bacteria in it can make you sick. These bacteria can cause you to have stomach cramps, nausea and diarrhea. The only way to make sure that your water supply is safe to drink is with regular testing.
Testing Your Drinking Water
The Ontario Public Health Laboratories will test your water for bacteria (E. Coli and total coliforms). This service is free for all private drinking water system owners and is administered by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) for the County of Haliburton.
- Drinking water sample collection kits can be picked up and dropped off at many locations within the HKPR District Health Unit area including the villages of Haliburton and Minden.
- Water samples will only be accepted if collected directly into the sterile bottles provided by the HKPR District Health Unit.
The HKPR District Health Unit Website provides excellent information on testing your drinking water, including sample collection and interpreting results.
Drinking Water Safety Resources
The Ontario Government has published some information about groundwater, private water supplies and the different types of private rural water wells. There is limited information published on the use of lake water (surface water) for drinking. This technical information is focused on rural residents with drinking water wells, although much of the information can be applied to drinking water sourced from a lake.
https://www.ontario.ca/page/private-rural-water-supplies
Information on Drinking Water Testing for Private Citizens from Public Health Ontario is available here:
Drinking Water Testing for Private Citizens – Public Health Ontario
A more comprehensive technical guide for managing Small Water Systems is available here:
Small Water Supply System Guidebook (Government of British Columbia – 2017)