The public is being warned of a phone scam in the North Bay Parry Sound District. Our district health unit says they have been told that home owners are getting phone calls asking to submit water tests for at a cost to test for E. coli which they say is a scam. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care provides free drinking water testing for bacterial contamination for those on private water systems with empty water sample bottles available at Health Unit offices in North Bay, Parry Sound, and Burk’s Falls as well as at some municipal offices. Meanwhile, municipal drinking water systems are routinely tested for the presence of bacteria and the Ministry of the Environment and the Health Unit monitor the results and advise the public when tests indicate the presence of bacteria. If you have questions about your drinking water, contact the Health Unit at 705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808, or learn more at www.myhealthunit.ca
