Water Sample Shipment Schedule

Water sample kits are available at local Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) offices for free. You can ship your sample yourself or drop off your sample to us and we will ship it to an accredited laboratory for a small fee. Results will be mailed to you.

Please note that in rare circumstances, courier companies may face delays that could impact the delivery time of samples.

Water sample shipment fees

The fees are:

  • Private water samples $3.00 ($2.65 + $0.35 HST)
  • Small Drinking Water Systems samples $5.00 (​$4.42 + $0.58 HST)

Schedule for shipping water samples

Please note that we close all of our offices from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm.

Summer water sampling schedule for May – September

Water samples ship every Tuesday from NWHU office locations listed below. Please ensure we receive the samples before the times noted.

  • Dryden – 11:30 am
  • Fort Frances – 2:00 pm
  • Kenora – 11:30 am
  • Sioux Lookout – 10:00 am
  • Ear Falls – 10:30 am

Water samples ship from the NWHU office locations listed below on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Please ensure we receive the samples before the noted times.

  • Emo – 11:30 am
  • Ignace – 9:15 am
  • Rainy River – 10:30 am
  • Red Lake – 10:00 am
  • Sioux Narrows – 11:30am

Water samples ship from the NWHU office locations listed below on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Please ensure we receive the samples before the noted times.

  • Atikokan – 10:30 am

Winter water sampling schedule for October – April

Water samples ship from the NWHU office locations below on the second Tuesday of each month. Please ensure we receive samples before the times noted – weather permitting.

  • Dryden – 11:30 am
  • Ear Falls – 10:30 am
  • Emo – 11:30 am
  • Fort Frances – 2:00 pm
  • Ignace – 9:15 am
  • Kenora – 11:30 am
  • Rainy River – 10:30 am
  • Red Lake – 10:00 am
  • Sioux Lookout – 10:00 am
  • Atikokan- 10:30 am (on the second Wednesday of each month)
  • Sioux Narrows  – No water collection

Sending samples directly

You can send water samples to the laboratory directly.

Here’s how:

  • Ensure the name sticker is completed and placed on the sample bottle
  • Ensure the paperwork is filled out, placed in a plastic bag, and packed with the water sample
  • Pack the water sample in a suitable box, with an ice pack to keep it cool while shipping. The ice pack can be as simple as a frozen bottle of water.
  • Line the box with packing material (ie; newspaper). When packing the sample try and separate the ice pack and water sample bottle so they aren’t directly touching, and pack it tight so there is little movement during transit.
  • Choose the appropriate courier/shipping service. Samples must arrive at the lab on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and within 24 hours from the time of sampling.
  • Private water samples can be sent to:
    • Public Health Lab
      336 Syndicate Ave S
      Thunder Bay ON P7E 1E3
      1-807-622-6449
  • Small Drinking Water System samples can be sent to a private lab

Last modified: 10 April 2025