Lambton Public Health works with residents of Lambton County to provide testing and sampling options to prevent or reduce the burden of illness and disease related to human exposure to environmental factors, such as water and insects (ticks and mosquitoes).
Water Sampling & Testing
Our goal is to ensure our water remains safe for everyone to use, whether it is drinking water or recreational water use. Public health inspectors (PHIs) help prevent and reduce water-borne illness related to drinking water by:
- Working with operators of municipal and small drinking water systems
- Issuing boil water or drinking water advisories
- Helping homeowners get private well water tested, interpret water sample results, and provide advice
- Inspecting public pools, wading pools, spas (hot tubs), etc.
- Monitoring water quality and safety of public beaches
- Investigating reports of water-borne illnesses
- Educating ways to maintain clean and safe waters
Stay safe by:
- Avoiding recreational waters areas posted as unsafe
- Checking beach water quality and call the beach info line 519-383-3816 or sign up for text updates and text “BEACH” to 226-909-3003
- Testing your private well routinely 3-4 times per year, and immediately if the well is flooded
Well Water Testing
Water sample kits can be picked up and dropped off at:
Lambton Public Health, 160 Exmouth St., Point Edward
Phone: 519-383-8331 or 1-800-667-1839
- Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Charlotte Eleaner Englehart Hospital, 450 Blanche St., Petrolia
Phone: (519) 882-4325
- Monday-Wednesday 8:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m.
Forest and Petrolia sub-offices (public health) are closed but rural residents in Lambton County can bring water samples to our main office in Point Edward. Alternatively, residents may be closer to:
- London Public Health Lab, 1200 Commissioners Rd E
Additional details for this location
Mosquito Testing & Tick Identification
One hazard of outdoor activity is exposure to insects. Lyme disease is an infection caused by bacteria that can spread to humans through the bite of an infected tick. Not all ticks carry Lyme disease.
Lambton Public Health also monitors the presence of West Nile virus in the community based on the collection and testing of mosquitoes from various locations across Lambton.
Important steps if you find a tick on a person:
Identify the type of tick. Save the tick in a jar screw-top bottle or doubled zip-lock bag and take a photo.
- Website: What blacklegged ticks look like
- If you are unsure what type of tick might have bit you, you can submit a photo to Lambton Public Health at: Online Tick Submission (chkmkt.com)
- You can also submit a photo of the tick to https://www.etick.ca/
If you are bit by a blacklegged tick from a high-risk area, and it has been attached and feeding for 24 hours or more, Lambton Public Health strongly advises that you speak to a Health Care Provider as soon as possible to see if you meet the criteria for prophylaxis (preventative) treatment.
If you do not have access to your family doctor, there are several walk-in clinics in Lambton County. You can find the list here: walk-in clinic in Lambton County.
If you were not in a high-risk area, continue to identify the tick and monitor for symptoms. Most symptoms of Lyme disease in humans usually appear between three and 30 days after a bite from an infected blacklegged tick. If you experience symptoms, you should speak to a health care provider right away and notify Lambton Public Health – Online Tick Submission (chkmkt.com) or Contact Us.
Learn more about Lyme disease and high-risk areas in Lambton County under Safe Environments.