How often should I have my water tested?

If you receive your water from a municipal supply, you can be fairly certain that the water supply is checked on a regular basis. The frequency of the testing is based on the number of people served, and may vary from more than once per week to once per month, or even less. 

If you have a private well, you are the only person who is responsible for the water your family drinks and bathes in. Your local Health Unit recommends testing three times a year for Bacteria. Private wells should be tested on a regular basis for Pesticides, Herbicides, Metals, Organic and Inorganic chemicals and volatiles. Currently, no laws govern the frequency of such testing -- that is why you are the only person responsible for your family's water. Remember too that the next day after testing and finding "no contaminants", your source could become contaminated and unless you have some way of killing the bacteria, like an Ultra Violet disinfection system, you will not know that bacteria is present until the next time you have it tested.