How Nanaimo is built
- Before 1961 15%
- 1961–1990 40%
- 1991–2000 18%
- 2001 or later 28%
Wells in Nanaimo
Most of Nanaimo is on the City's water system, but the Regional District of Nanaimo's well-testing rebate is open to City of Nanaimo residents with a private domestic well.
Local program: RDN Well Water Testing Rebate: 50% of a qualifying chemical + bacterial test, up to $350, once per well every five years; open for 2026 and available in the City of Nanaimo.
How testing works in British Columbia
There's no free provincial program: use a qualified lab (search the CALA directory), which supplies the bottles. HealthLinkBC recommends testing for bacteria at least once a year and for chemistry when the well is new and annually after that.
What to test for
- Bacteria (total coliforms and E. coli): at least once a year, and after flooding, heavy rain or work on the well.
- Nitrate, especially near farmland or septic systems.
- Metals and naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic, uranium or manganese when a well is new and every few years after, depending on local geology.
Well water testing in Nanaimo: common questions
Is well water testing free in British Columbia?
There's no free provincial program: use a qualified lab (search the CALA directory), which supplies the bottles. HealthLinkBC recommends testing for bacteria at least once a year and for chemistry when the well is new and annually after that.
How often should I test my well?
For bacteria, at least once a year and after flooding, heavy rain or well work; many health units recommend more often. Test chemistry when the well is new and every few years after.
Are private wells common in Nanaimo?
Most of Nanaimo is on the City's water system, but the Regional District of Nanaimo's well-testing rebate is open to City of Nanaimo residents with a private domestic well.