How Yellowknife is built
- Before 1961 3%
- 1961–1990 54%
- 1991–2000 21%
- 2001 or later 22%
Wells in Yellowknife
About 680 Yellowknife residents (roughly 4%) receive the City's trucked water and most others are on its piped system, so private household wells are rare.
Local program: The GNWT's Taiga Environmental Laboratory in Yellowknife accepts samples from private citizens (fee-based; bottles free). Details
How testing works in Northwest Territories
There's no free program: the GNWT's Taiga Environmental Laboratory in Yellowknife tests private samples ($28 for bacteria in its 2021 price guide) and supplies bottles free.
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 Yellowknife: common questions
Is well water testing free in Northwest Territories?
There's no free program: the GNWT's Taiga Environmental Laboratory in Yellowknife tests private samples ($28 for bacteria in its 2021 price guide) and supplies bottles free.
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 Yellowknife?
About 680 Yellowknife residents (roughly 4%) receive the City's trucked water and most others are on its piped system, so private household wells are rare.