Staying Healthy – Don’t Drink Untreated Lake Water
The water quality in the Bay of Islands is very good, however, you should not drink raw lake water without first treating it! Raw lake water could contain bacteria and viruses that might make you sick.
Public Health Ontario – Free Drinking Water Testing
Public Health Ontario (PHO) provides a free drinking water testing service for the presence of bacterial indicators of contamination, E. Coli and total coliforms. Be aware of the fact that this testing does not provide any information regarding the potential presence of chemical or heavy metals that can also be detrimental to your health. Testing for those substances is not supported by PHO and individuals who want this type of testing need to use a private laboratory at their own expense.
Test kits are available in Espanola at the Public Health Sudbury and District Office located in the west end of the Mall at 800 Centre St. and can be picked up Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (closed for lunch, noon – 1:00 pm). Note that water samples are not accepted on Fridays.
Bay Of Islands Community Association