How Whitehorse is built
- Before 1961 8%
- 1961–1990 41%
- 1991–2000 16%
- 2001 or later 35%
Wells in Whitehorse
Whitehorse's piped system draws on the aquifer below Riverdale, but the city also has country-residential areas outside the urban core.
Local program: Free bacteria testing at Yukon Environmental Health Services Water Laboratory, #2 Hospital Road, Whitehorse (867-667-8391). Details
How testing works in Yukon
Free bacteria testing at Yukon's Environmental Health Services water lab in Whitehorse (867-667-8391). No Yukon lab tests chemistry, so those samples go to accredited labs in B.C. or Alberta, often around $200 plus shipping.
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 Whitehorse: common questions
Is well water testing free in Yukon?
Free bacteria testing at Yukon's Environmental Health Services water lab in Whitehorse (867-667-8391). No Yukon lab tests chemistry, so those samples go to accredited labs in B.C. or Alberta, often around $200 plus shipping.
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 Whitehorse?
Whitehorse's piped system draws on the aquifer below Riverdale, but the city also has country-residential areas outside the urban core.