How Simcoe County is built
- Before 1961 16%
- 1961–1990 36%
- 1991–2000 13%
- 2001 or later 34%
This page covers the 16 towns and townships of the County of Simcoe. Barrie and Orillia are separate cities that aren't part of the county government; Barrie has its own pages. The District of Muskoka, north of the county, has its own section below.
Free testing through the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Free bacteria testing (E. coli and total coliforms) through Public Health Ontario. Bottles can be picked up and samples dropped off at health unit offices in Barrie, Collingwood, Cookstown, Gravenhurst, Huntsville and Midland. The Orillia office hands out bottles but doesn't take samples; the Public Health Ontario lab in Orillia does both. Bottle pick-up runs Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; sample drop-off is Monday to Thursday before 4:30 p.m., with no Friday drop-offs at health unit offices.
The health unit says regular testing is the best way to make sure your water stays safe, because private water quality can change over time; it doesn't set a schedule.
What the free test covers, and what it doesn’t
Public Health Ontario's lab tests only for indicator bacteria: total coliforms and E. coli. Samples have to reach the lab within a day or two, so collect them early in the week and check the drop-off cut-off times. Public Health Ontario doesn't test for chemicals or minerals; for those, use a licensed private laboratory.
Reading the results, and what to do next
Ontario's guide to testing and treating private wells reads the counts (per 100 mL) like this:
- E. coli above 0: unsafe to drink, with evidence of animal or human waste getting into the well. Stop drinking the water and call the health unit right away.
- Total coliforms above 5, no E. coli: significant evidence of bacterial contamination, usually surface water getting in. The water may be unsafe to drink: call the health unit, inspect and repair the well, shock-chlorinate it if needed and retest.
- Total coliforms of 5 or fewer, no E. coli: some evidence of bacteria, which may not be significant at these low levels. Keep testing to track the pattern.
Boiling water at a rolling boil for at least one minute kills harmful organisms but doesn't remove dissolved contaminants. To disinfect, the province says to shock-chlorinate the well and the entire household plumbing system. Between tests, check that the well cap and the sealant around the casing aren't cracked or damaged, and keep the ground sloping away from the well: Ontario's Wells Regulation requires owners to maintain a well so surface water can't get in.
Why testing is worth the trip
Ontario's auditor general estimated in 2025 that about 1.3 million Ontarians rely on private wells, and that fewer than a third of well owners had tested in the previous 12 months (as reported by CBC). Well water can change with the seasons, after heavy rain or snowmelt, and after work on the well, which is why the health units ask for several tests a year.
What to test for
- Bacteria (total coliforms and E. coli), several times a year and after flooding, heavy rain or work on the well.
- Nitrate, especially near farmland or septic systems: the province flags nitrate above 10 ppm as a health risk for infants, and reverse osmosis or distillation treats it.
- Naturally occurring minerals such as arsenic, uranium and radium, which the province lists as long-term health risks; a private accredited lab tests for them.
Read more: The well water guide.
Communities we cover in Simcoe County
Every town, village and hamlet below is part of this page, grouped by municipality (2021 Census population).
- Town of New Tecumseth 43,948Alliston, Beeton, Tottenham
- Town of Innisfil 43,326Bell Ewart, Big Bay Point, Cookstown, Gilford, Lefroy, Stoney Point
- Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury 42,880Bond Head, Bradford
- Town of Wasaga Beach 24,862
- Town of Collingwood 24,811
- Township of Oro-Medonte 23,017Hawkestone, Horseshoe Valley, Oro, Oro Station, Shanty Bay, Warminster
- Township of Essa 22,970Angus, CFB Borden, Egbert, Thornton, Utopia
- Township of Springwater 21,701Elmvale, Midhurst, Minesing, Phelpston
- Town of Midland 17,817
- Township of Clearview 14,814Creemore, Duntroon, Nottawa, Singhampton, Stayner
- Township of Severn 14,576Amigo Beach, Bass Lake, Coldwater, Marchmont, Port Severn
- Township of Tiny 12,966Wyebridge
- Township of Tay 11,091Port McNicoll
- Township of Adjala-Tosorontio 10,989Everett, Glencairn, Lisle, Loretto, Rosemont
- Township of Ramara 10,377Longford Mills
- Town of Penetanguishene 10,077
District of Muskoka
- Town of Huntsville 21,147
- Town of Bracebridge 17,305
- Town of Gravenhurst 13,157
- Township of Muskoka Lakes 7,652
- Township of Lake of Bays 3,759
- Township of Georgian Bay 3,441
Covered on city pages: Barrie.
Well water testing in Simcoe County: common questions
Is well water testing free in Simcoe County?
Yes for bacteria. Free bacteria testing (E. coli and total coliforms) through Public Health Ontario. Public Health Ontario doesn't test for chemicals or minerals; for those, use a licensed private laboratory.
Where do I get a well water bottle in Innisfil?
Bottles can be picked up and samples dropped off at health unit offices in Barrie, Collingwood, Cookstown, Gravenhurst, Huntsville and Midland. The Orillia office hands out bottles but doesn't take samples; the Public Health Ontario lab in Orillia does both. Bottle pick-up runs Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; sample drop-off is Monday to Thursday before 4:30 p.m., with no Friday drop-offs at health unit offices.
How often should I test my well?
The health unit says regular testing is the best way to make sure your water stays safe, because private water quality can change over time; it doesn't set a schedule.
Does the free test check for nitrate?
Public Health Ontario doesn't test for chemicals or minerals; for those, use a licensed private laboratory.
What if my well water test shows E. coli?
Ontario says any E. coli means the water is unsafe to drink. Stop drinking it, use bottled water, and call your public health unit right away; it will advise on repairs, shock chlorination and retesting.