Environmental Health

Outside the City of Calgary, you can pick up sample bottles for chemical and bacteriological testing at any of the drop-off locations outside the city of Calgary (also see next question).

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Where and when do I drop off my water sample?

Water samples for bacterial and chemical analysis of private wells may be dropped off at the following locations, at the noted times:

Drop-Off Locations within Calgary:

(Note: To ensure efficient processing, drop off your bacteriological and chemical water samples at one of the following Community Health Centres, Monday to Friday, before 9:00 am)

Acadia Community Health Centre
#132, 151 86th Avenue SE
Phone 403-944-7200
Click for more information

Forest Lawn Community Health Centre
3810 17th Avenue SE
Phone 403-944-7300
Click for more information

North Hill Community Health Centre
1527 19th Street NW
Phone 403-944-7400

Click for more information

Northwest Community Health Centre
Ranchland & Bowness Sites
#109, 1829 Ranchlands Blvd NW
Phone 403-943-9700
Click for more information

Shaganappi Community Health Centre
3415 8th Avenue SW
Phone 403-944-7373
Click for more information

Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre
Calgary Laboratory Services - 3rd Floor
1213 4th Street SW
Phone 403-955-6188
Click for more information

Village Square Health Centre
2623 56th Street NE
Phone 403-944-7000
Click for more information

Drop-Off Locations Outside of Calgary:

(Note: All locations below charge a handling fee for the couriering of your water samples to Calgary:

• $5.00 for 1 - 4 samples
• $10.00 for 5 or more samples

Airdrie Regional Health Centre
604 Main Street S
Phone 403-912-8400
Tuesdays before 2:00 pm

Banff Public Health Centre
303 Lynx Street
Phone 403-762-2990
Mondays before 3:00 pm

Black Diamond Health Centre
717 Government Road S
Phone 403-933-8505
Mondays before 3:00 pm

Canmore Public Health Centre
#104, 800 Railway Avenue
Phone 403-678-5656
Mondays before 3:00 pm

Claresholm Public Health Unit
5221 2nd Street W
Phone 403-625-4061
Mondays before 3:00 pm

Cochrane Community Health Centre
#101, 213 1 Street W
Phone 403-932-8700
Mondays before 12:00 pm

Didsbury Health Unit
1210 20th Avenue
Phone 403-335-9393
Tuesdays before 11:00 am

High River Public Health Centre
310 Macleod Trail
Phone 403-652-3297
Mondays before 12:00 pm

Nanton Community Health Centre
2216 – 20 Street
Phone 403-646-2218
Mondays until 3:00 pm

Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre
11 Cimarron Common
Phone 403-995-2600
Mondays before 3:00 pm

Strathmore Health Centre
650 Westchester Road
Phone 403-934-3454
Tuesdays before 12:00 pm

Vulcan Public Health Unit
610 Elizabeth Street S
Phone 403-485-2285
Mondays before 3:30 pm

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What is the correct way to collect a water sample for bacteriological testing?

For bacteriological water samples, please refer to the sections that follow, entitled "General Instructions", "Sampling Procedures", and "Filling out the Requisition Form".

General Instructions:

Please read all instructions below, and instructions on the sample requisition form before collecting your sample.

• Do not rinse the sample bottle or lose any of the powder from inside the bottle.
• Do not touch the mouth of the bottle, or inside the bottle cap.
• Do not place the cap on any surface while filling the bottle.
• Do not allow the bottle to overflow or allow water to splash down the side of bottle.
• Do not collect samples from:
• hot water fixtures, garden hoses, outside taps, or locations likely to be dirty
• faucets without first unscrewing and removing the aerator (the little screen at the end)

Please call your local Health Inspector to discuss testing any water treatment devices such as reverse osmosis, distillation, cartridge filters, UV light devices, etc.

Sampling Procedure:

Keep sample bottle closed until the moment you fill it with a water sample.

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water
• Run the cold water tap at a controlled, steady flow for 5 minutes before collecting the sample
• Reduce the water flow to permit filling without splashing
• Remove the cap from the bottle
• Hold the bottle near the base, fill to half-way between the fill line marked on the bottle and the top of the bottle
• Replace cap immediately
• Attach the identification label from the front page of the requisition form to the sample bottle. Samples that are missing the ID label on the bottle will not be processed!
• Complete the requisition form (see next section)
• Place the sample bottle and completed form in the plastic bag. Ensure the cap is tightly secured
• Keep water sample refrigerated in a cooler, or place on ice, and deliver to the Health Region as soon as possible (locations and times listed on the other side of brochure)

Samples must arrive at the lab no later than 24 hours after collection. When delivering samples to a location outside of Calgary, collect samples after 8:00 am on the same day you submit them so they can be delivered to the lab in less than 24 hours.

Filling out the Requisition Form:

Complete the requisition form, including the following information:

• Your name, mailing address, postal code, and daytime telephone number (where you can be reached in the event your water supply is unsafe). This information is used for contacting and mailing out results.
• The legal land description of the drinking water source.
• The date and time of collection and the name of person collecting sample.
• Section (A) Drinking Water Information
• If this is a resample because previous sample showed coliform contamination, check "Yes" in the top grey box, on the right side of the form.

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What is the correct way to collect a water sample for chemical testing?

For chemical water samples, please refer to the sections that follow, entitled "General Instructions", "Sampling Procedure", and "Filling out the Requisition Form".

General Instructions:

Please read all instructions below and the instructions on the sample requisition form before collecting your sample.

• Submit drinking water from the primary residence only
• Use only the special sample bottle provided by the Health Region
• Do not rinse the sample bottle, touch the mouth of the bottle, or inside the bottle cap
• Do not place the cap on any surface while filling the bottle
• Do not collect samples from faucets without first unscrewing and removing the aerator, hot water fixtures, garden hoses, outside taps, or other locations likely to be dirty

Sampling Procedure:

Keep the sample bottle closed until you are just about to fill it with the sample.

• Run the cold water tap at a controlled, steady flow for 5 minutes before collecting the sample
• Remove the cap from the bottle and fill the bottle completely
• Cap the bottle tightly
• Detach the front sheet of the requisition form. Attach one Chemical ID No. Label from this sheet to the "Identification number" box on the sample bottle's label. Attach the other Chemical ID No. Label on the top of the sample bottle's lid. Samples that are missing an ID label from the bottle will not be processed!
• Complete the requisition form (see next section)
• Place the sample bottle and completed form in the plastic bag
• Deliver to the Health Region as soon as possible

Please call your local Health Inspector to discuss the testing of any water treatment devices such as reverse osmosis, distillation, cartridge filters, UV light devices, etc.

Filling out the Requisition Form:

Complete the requisition form and ensure that the following areas are properly completed (these are usually highlighted on each form):

• Request for a Chemical Analysis
• Water supply for (your name)
• Mailing address, city, postal code
• Contact telephone number
• Collection Site - well head, kitchen tap, etc.
• Reason for sampling - new well, five year routine, new baby, etc.
• Legal Land Description MUST be provided - Section, Township, Range, Meridian
• Sample Collected by - name of person who collected the sample
• Date of Collection - day/month/year
• Sample - Private
• Sample Treatment - Raw
• Source - well, spring, cistern, etc.
• Well Depth - in feet

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How do I get the results of my water sample tests?

If your water sample result is unsatisfactory, a Public Health Inspector will attempt to contact the person listed on the requisition form to discuss the result.

All water sample analysis results are mailed to the address stated on the requisition form (requests for results be phone or fax are not returned).

If you have reason to believe your drinking water is unsafe, please await and review your results before assuming the water is safe to drink.

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How do I get water from the City of Calgary's municipal supply tested?

Municipally treated water is already routinely tested by the Provincial Laboratory for Public Health. The results of these tests are automatically forwarded to the Calgary Health Region and Alberta Environment.

Water samples from a municipal supply that are submitted by the public will not be analysed by the Provincial Laboratory for Public Health.

If you are experiencing a problem or suspect a problem with your municipality’s water utility, please contact the municipality’s public works department

City of Calgary waterworks can be contacted about water quality concerns and complaints by dialling 311.

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How do I get my water tested for other types of bacteria or other chemical contaminants (e.g. iron-reducing bacteria, pesticides, gasoline, methane, etc.)?

The Calgary Health Region offers testing of water samples for routine bacteriological and chemical analyses. Please contact a private laboratory for additional types of water sample tests. A list of private laboratories can be found in the Yellow Pages, under the heading “Laboratories” or click the following link:

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Should I install treatment for my water supply? What kind of treatment do I need?

Point-of-use treatment devices such as reverse osmosis or ultraviolet light filters may be useful for improving the safety of your drinking water. To help you choose which device is best for your water supply, please read Alberta Health & Wellness's document entitled "Drinking Water Treatment Devices ". If you have any questions about treatment devices please call your local health inspector.

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How do I contact the Calgary Health Region about water testing services?

If there was a question not answered by this website, or for more information about water sampling services, please call your local Health Inspector at one of the following locations:

• Banff 403-762-2990
• Calgary 409-943-2296
• Canmore 403-678-5656
• Claresholm 403-625-4061
• Okotoks 403-995-2683
• Strathmore 403-934-3454

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