This is a well know water source in the Hamilton / Ancaster area. This area is covered with many naturally occurring small springs, this artesian well goes down to 120 meters / 394 feet from the surface to achieve better volume. This aquifer originates from the water table near the Georgian Bay area.
Just took a TDS reading of the Ancaster spring water and got a reading of 201. Also a new sign was posted at the spring when I went today saying that the most recent test results found slightly elevated levels of sodium in the water and that people with hypertension should consult their physician before drinking.
I was going to us this source to supply water for my cooler at home but after reading of the elevated arsenic levels, I am hesitant. World Health Organization recommended max. concentration of As in drinking water is 10ppb (0.010mg/L) so measurements of 21ppb are certainly of concern….
The water test results are posted on site. The results on Sept.13, 2011 as posted:
pH:8.08
Alkalinity: 157 mg/L
Floride: 0.28 mg/L
Calcium: 32.1 mg/L
Conductivity: 489 omhos/cm
Sulphate: 25.4 mg/L
If your looking for a specific ingrediant, and the amount contained in the water, post and I will respond..
Please email me at innovativeidc@hotmail.com. I would like to know the answer to this question- Is it safe to use the sulpher spring water in ancaster ontario ( not the drinking tap one but the other stinky one ) for my bath on going, and at what RATIO? Currently, I fill the tub up with just hot water letting it sit half hour to burn off the chlorine, then I light a candle and pour in the high concentration of the sulpher water into the tub of about 12 liters. Please help.
Thanks
Venessa
Hi Venessa ( I just sent this reply to your e-mail but I thought I would post it here for others to see as well )
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to use the water at 820 Sulphur Springs Road for bathing purposes, it’s the best way to get that highly mineralized water into your body & bypass your taste buds & your intestinal system. I do not actually use ANY ratio of tap water at all, I gather enough of this water to bath in all by its self ( about 60 to 80 liters of it ) then let it sit at room temperature to warm up or if it’s hot out, I’ll let it sit in the sun for about 4 hours & it will heat up to 98 degrees Fahrenheit. When the Sulphur Springs Spa hotel was in business, they would just heat the sulphur water & use it all on it’s own ( without diluting it ) & provide sulphur baths to the hotel visitors.
The method you’re describing below should still be beneficial to some degree but I imagine the effects would be very subtle because of the ratio of heated tap water to sulphur water. I do realize that it’s a lot of work to gather enough of this sulphur water to fill a bath & getting it warm enough to bath in is even more difficult but I’m always thinking of ways to make it easier. Now if you had a specific part of your body that needed to be treated ( for example a hand, foot, elbow, knee etc . ) than it would be easy to heat up 4 – 10 liters of sulphur water & than just soak that part of your body in the water for as long as you needed. A friend of mine came up with a great idea, she was planning on bringing a kiddie pool directly to the sulphur spring, filling it up with water & just jump in, it would be freezing though!
Anyway, I hope this info helped – please feel free to contact me anytime.
Based on the lab analysis posted in the pictures, I would be concerned about the following:
1. Arsenic was 0.021ppm which is 21X the 0.001ppm level for drinking water standards 2. Barium was 0.08ppm which is 40X the 0.002ppm level for drinking water standards 3. Turbidity of 1.71 NTU is 17X the 0.1 NTU drinking water standards
A link to the Ontario Drinking Water Standards has been posted in ‘more info’. This is where I got the following numbers, which are all below the Ontario Drinking Water Standards:
1. Arsenic was 0.021 mg/L …0.025 mg/L = level for drinking water standards
2. Barium was 0.08 mg/L … 1 mg/L = level for drinking water standards
3. Turbidity of 1.71 NTU … 5 NTU = level for drinking water standards
When was the last time this water was tested? Would anyone be interested in going in on running an updated test with me? ?? I believe they’re about $300 in a lab.
I visited about a week ago. The well is now gated with swipe card access. One sign explains why:
“On January 1, 2018 the maximum legal limit for arsenic in drinking water wells established by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, will be 0.010mg/L.
The concentration of arsenic in the water at the Ancaster Well has always been below the existing legal limit of 0.025mg/L over the past 5 years, but it will fail to meet the new standard.
The water has always been within the limits until the change. If you want to support the spring staying open please sign the petition and attend the meetings if you are able. I believe in the right to choose spring water–and for free. Many people have been getting their water here for years. Some people for more than 20 years. The government is forcing us into consumerism and controlling our resources. Is this what you want?
The HCA is voting on closing our spring please join us on June 22nd at 7pm at the Cooetown Community centre to discuss this spring, how it used and its future. Find out more at savourspring.ca and please sign our petition
Stay away from this well. I used to get my water from the effingham spring until recently when the people who lived in that area blocked me from leaving and said they were getting the city to cap the well, this was 2 months ago.
I assumed I could use ancaster as a back up, I Was wrong. I have checked the PH level 3 times now, at home and directly at the source, it is sitting at 5.8-6 and the reading from the city of Hamilton is showing fluoride in the water. Someone has clearly tampered with the flow further back underground. My body PH has always been 7-7.25 and now its at 6.5 after drinking this water for 6-8 weeks.
Coincidentally Nestle has stepped up extraction at their facility “further back” so there is likely your answer right there. Would anyone care to bet or better yet organize and work together to collect the scientific data required to prove or disprove that their unsustainable and morally reprehensible harvesting from this aquifer by Nestle for bottled water are whats causing the spike in sodium etc. When you tamper with an aquifer by essentially draining it changes to water composition and ph levels will occcur? Is their data to support this? Anyone? Note, the municipal, provincial and federal governments dont care one bit and want all ground water sources capped to protect tax revenue.
Exactly how does one measure body pH, and how does drinking water change body pH? Nonsense.
This water has high arsenic levels and is untreated. Drinking untreated raw water is just stupid and ignorant.
There has not been any information posted about this spring since 2012. I would like to post some up to date information about this spring that people might find useful.
This spring is tested every 6 months by the Hamilton Conservation Authority. The testing began in 1999 and still continues today. The most recent test was done in February of 2016.
The water has a prominent “egg” smell and taste. I assume it’s due to the sulphate. Whether or not you appreciate the smell/taste, it is worth noting that it dissipates completely within 1 week of storage. I think this would happen even faster if you left the tops off your containers.
The water is very silky; meaning it has a very low mineral taste. It does not feel like work to swallow. It is very pleasant tasting once the sulphate dissipates.
When heating this water to make tea, it does not change the flavour of your tea. The other spring I was going to previously had about twice the mineral content of this one and I found that all of my teas tasted off.
The spring itself is very beautiful. The area is clean and rustic and the people who visit are friendly and talkative.
It takes me approximately 1 hour 30 minutes (one way) to get to this spring and I have to rest my containers for about a week before using this water. However, I find these two minor inconveniences worth the fact that this is the only spring I am currently aware of that is tested by a conservation authority periodically. This makes me feel comfortable about consuming the water without any risk of getting ill.
I highly recommend this spring to those wanting to try spring water for the first time in a safe manner or those who, like myself, are regular spring goers and want to find a clean tasting, but tested source.
Drinking pure spring water is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Our bodies are over 99% water at the molecular level, so water affects every aspect of our biology. Yet, not all water is created equal. Almost all the bottled spring water available is pasteurized for shelf stability, which neutralizes many of the powerful health benefits such as increased hydrogen, healthy probiotics, and crystalline structure. For more about why unprocessed spring water is the best water to drink, read this.
The best way to guarantee you are getting real unprocessed spring water is to collect it yourself. This is a short and simple guide filled with information about how to gather spring water. We will cover how to find a spring, how to collect the water, how to honor the spring, how to store the water properly and other tips.
FindASpring.org is the best resource for locating a spring near you. However, not all springs are on the map. First, check the map to see if there is a spring in your local area. If there is, look at the reviews and comments. Has anyone shared helpful information about flow rate or posted a water test result? Is the spring in a pristine area? Do a bit of research and make sure the spring is safe to drink from. If you have any doubt about the purity, don’t risk it and get a water test, HERE. If you don’t see a spring on the map in your area, there still might be some that aren’t listed yet. First, ask the older generation who have lived in your area a long time if they know. You can also ask people in your community who might already get spring water such as people at a health food store or at a farmers market. Another great option is to view A US forest service map, where many springs have been marked. You can view these maps through the Gaia GPS or All Trails hiking apps on your phone. The map overlay you want is USGS Topo. Not all are easily accessible or ideal for drinking, but some are and it can be a fun adventure to find them. We have found over half a dozen great springs this way.
Once you’ve found your spring, figure out how you are going to gather the water. Is it right on the side of the road and easy to access or do you have to hike to it? We recommend storing spring water in glass instead of plastic to preserve the purity of the water. It is better for the environment, your body, and the water. Even BPA free plastic has toxic chemicals that can leach into water and cause health issues. If you do want to use plastic for safety reasons when filling at the spring, we recommend transferring the water to glass as soon as possible. FindASpring is sponsored by Alive Waters, which offers beautiful reusable glass. They have a 2.5 gallon option, which is a convenient size for carrying that isn’t too heavy. They also sell handles that you can use to transport the jugs even more easily. If you have to hike to access the spring, we recommend putting the water jugs into an extra large backpack to hike the water out with ease. We use Osprey packs that hold 2 jugs each. You can also use a wheelbarrow or even a stroller depending on how easy a walk it is.
Filling 2.5 Gallon Alive Waters Jug
When you get to the spring, remember to first give back before you take. Springs are considered sacred in indigenous cultures around the world for their life giving water and also as a connection to the inner earth. A powerful and simple way to give back is to clean up. Is there any trash that needs to be collected? Could you move any dead leaves or sticks to improve the flow rate? Show up in service. Some other wonderful ways to give is with a moment of expressing verbal gratitude, singing songs to the water, offering the water an ethically sourced crystal, a feather, or some other physical gift. Flowers are a popular and beautiful thing to offer, but please be careful to source organic ones as most flowers from the store are sprayed with pesticides and can be toxic to put near a spring. Also, flowers can attract bugs as they decay, so it can be best to offer them to the flowing water directly or a little downstream from the spring head.
When gathering the water, fill the jug as close to the spring head as possible, never gather downstream. Be very careful as wet glass is extremely slippery. Make sure the lid is securely fastened. When transporting the spring water home, the jugs can sometimes slide around the car. Secure them in place or wrap them with towels or something so they don’t crash into each other.
How you store your spring water is essential. It is not pasteurized like spring water from the store, so it will start growing algae if left in direct sunlight. This is good because it means it’s alive! If the water you drink can’t even support the most basic life forms, how do you think it will support your body? Store your water in a cool, dark place such as a dark corner, pantry or closet. The fridge is ideal if you have room. Some people prefer to filter their water through a Berkey filter before drinking, but if the spring is pure, it’s not necessary. We drink our spring water completely unfiltered.
How long the water stays good for depends on how cold a temperature it’s stored at. Spring water is best fresh. We personally do not prefer to drink spring water past 2 weeks old. However, we know other people that will drink it at a month old. It’s great to get in a rhythm where you know how long the water lasts you and put your collection day on the calendar in advance.
I believe that water is calling us to reconnect with her in the deepest way, to gather our own water. Just like our ancestors did. Our ancestors didn’t have fancy water machines. They also didn’t create villages or settle where there was no water. Water was revered as the center of the community and the nodal point around which life could spiral out and take root.
Here’s to restoring the sacred connection with the waters of life.
Written by Dakota Chanel. Water Priestess and Ceremonialist. DakotaChanel.com
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This depends on the source for your standards,
the ontario drinking water standards ODWS are posted in the picture as well:
http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k276/massimor…
and all of these elements are below the drinking water maximum… so i'm not sure where you are getting your standards from
I was there today. The gate was open. Perhaps it was left like that for anyone to use.
I made a new video about the Ancaster Artesian Well here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yblA88pJfUA
Thanks,
Mo
Just took a TDS reading of the Ancaster spring water and got a reading of 201. Also a new sign was posted at the spring when I went today saying that the most recent test results found slightly elevated levels of sodium in the water and that people with hypertension should consult their physician before drinking.
I was going to us this source to supply water for my cooler at home but after reading of the elevated arsenic levels, I am hesitant. World Health Organization recommended max. concentration of As in drinking water is 10ppb (0.010mg/L) so measurements of 21ppb are certainly of concern….
The water test results are posted on site. The results on Sept.13, 2011 as posted:
pH:8.08
Alkalinity: 157 mg/L
Floride: 0.28 mg/L
Calcium: 32.1 mg/L
Conductivity: 489 omhos/cm
Sulphate: 25.4 mg/L
If your looking for a specific ingrediant, and the amount contained in the water, post and I will respond..
can you drink this water and still be healthy even though it hasa pH of 8.14
Question to Mo Rosati:
Please email me at innovativeidc@hotmail.com. I would like to know the answer to this question- Is it safe to use the sulpher spring water in ancaster ontario ( not the drinking tap one but the other stinky one ) for my bath on going, and at what RATIO? Currently, I fill the tub up with just hot water letting it sit half hour to burn off the chlorine, then I light a candle and pour in the high concentration of the sulpher water into the tub of about 12 liters. Please help.
Thanks
Venessa
Hi Venessa ( I just sent this reply to your e-mail but I thought I would post it here for others to see as well )
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to use the water at 820 Sulphur Springs Road for bathing purposes, it’s the best way to get that highly mineralized water into your body & bypass your taste buds & your intestinal system. I do not actually use ANY ratio of tap water at all, I gather enough of this water to bath in all by its self ( about 60 to 80 liters of it ) then let it sit at room temperature to warm up or if it’s hot out, I’ll let it sit in the sun for about 4 hours & it will heat up to 98 degrees Fahrenheit. When the Sulphur Springs Spa hotel was in business, they would just heat the sulphur water & use it all on it’s own ( without diluting it ) & provide sulphur baths to the hotel visitors.
The method you’re describing below should still be beneficial to some degree but I imagine the effects would be very subtle because of the ratio of heated tap water to sulphur water. I do realize that it’s a lot of work to gather enough of this sulphur water to fill a bath & getting it warm enough to bath in is even more difficult but I’m always thinking of ways to make it easier. Now if you had a specific part of your body that needed to be treated ( for example a hand, foot, elbow, knee etc . ) than it would be easy to heat up 4 – 10 liters of sulphur water & than just soak that part of your body in the water for as long as you needed. A friend of mine came up with a great idea, she was planning on bringing a kiddie pool directly to the sulphur spring, filling it up with water & just jump in, it would be freezing though!
Anyway, I hope this info helped – please feel free to contact me anytime.
Thanks,
Mo Rosati – mrosati72@gmail.com
Based on the lab analysis posted in the pictures, I would be concerned about the following:
1. Arsenic was 0.021ppm which is 21X the 0.001ppm level for drinking water standards
2. Barium was 0.08ppm which is 40X the 0.002ppm level for drinking water standards
3. Turbidity of 1.71 NTU is 17X the 0.1 NTU drinking water standards
A link to the Ontario Drinking Water Standards has been posted in ‘more info’. This is where I got the following numbers, which are all below the Ontario Drinking Water Standards:
1. Arsenic was 0.021 mg/L …0.025 mg/L = level for drinking water standards
2. Barium was 0.08 mg/L … 1 mg/L = level for drinking water standards
3. Turbidity of 1.71 NTU … 5 NTU = level for drinking water standards
When was the last time this water was tested? Would anyone be interested in going in on running an updated test with me? ?? I believe they’re about $300 in a lab.
I visited about a week ago. The well is now gated with swipe card access. One sign explains why:
“On January 1, 2018 the maximum legal limit for arsenic in drinking water wells established by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, will be 0.010mg/L.
The concentration of arsenic in the water at the Ancaster Well has always been below the existing legal limit of 0.025mg/L over the past 5 years, but it will fail to meet the new standard.
If you want to continue to harvest the water, you can find info about how to obtain a swipe card at: http://conservationhamilton.ca/ancaster-well-faq/
This spring is set for closure due to the government changing the legal limit of arsenic.
http://saveourspring.ca/
The water has always been within the limits until the change. If you want to support the spring staying open please sign the petition and attend the meetings if you are able. I believe in the right to choose spring water–and for free. Many people have been getting their water here for years. Some people for more than 20 years. The government is forcing us into consumerism and controlling our resources. Is this what you want?
The HCA is voting on closing our spring please join us on June 22nd at 7pm at the Cooetown Community centre to discuss this spring, how it used and its future. Find out more at savourspring.ca and please sign our petition
Stay away from this well. I used to get my water from the effingham spring until recently when the people who lived in that area blocked me from leaving and said they were getting the city to cap the well, this was 2 months ago.
I assumed I could use ancaster as a back up, I Was wrong. I have checked the PH level 3 times now, at home and directly at the source, it is sitting at 5.8-6 and the reading from the city of Hamilton is showing fluoride in the water. Someone has clearly tampered with the flow further back underground. My body PH has always been 7-7.25 and now its at 6.5 after drinking this water for 6-8 weeks.
You have been warned.
Coincidentally Nestle has stepped up extraction at their facility “further back” so there is likely your answer right there. Would anyone care to bet or better yet organize and work together to collect the scientific data required to prove or disprove that their unsustainable and morally reprehensible harvesting from this aquifer by Nestle for bottled water are whats causing the spike in sodium etc. When you tamper with an aquifer by essentially draining it changes to water composition and ph levels will occcur? Is their data to support this? Anyone? Note, the municipal, provincial and federal governments dont care one bit and want all ground water sources capped to protect tax revenue.
Info on spring and closure reactions
http://saveourspring.ca/
https://www.change.org/p/lloyd-ferguson-save-our-sulphur-spring-ancaster-ontario-canada?recruiter=31191809&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition
Saveourspring.ca
Exactly how does one measure body pH, and how does drinking water change body pH? Nonsense.
This water has high arsenic levels and is untreated. Drinking untreated raw water is just stupid and ignorant.
I heard they are closing this well. Its the last of its kind.
Hi Ryan,
I can’t seem to find these test results you are talking about? Could you give a website link? Thank you!
I heard they were trying to close this well. We have been drinking from this well for years. Does anybody now any more news. THX
There has not been any information posted about this spring since 2012. I would like to post some up to date information about this spring that people might find useful.
This spring is tested every 6 months by the Hamilton Conservation Authority. The testing began in 1999 and still continues today. The most recent test was done in February of 2016.
The water has a prominent “egg” smell and taste. I assume it’s due to the sulphate. Whether or not you appreciate the smell/taste, it is worth noting that it dissipates completely within 1 week of storage. I think this would happen even faster if you left the tops off your containers.
The water is very silky; meaning it has a very low mineral taste. It does not feel like work to swallow. It is very pleasant tasting once the sulphate dissipates.
When heating this water to make tea, it does not change the flavour of your tea. The other spring I was going to previously had about twice the mineral content of this one and I found that all of my teas tasted off.
The spring itself is very beautiful. The area is clean and rustic and the people who visit are friendly and talkative.
It takes me approximately 1 hour 30 minutes (one way) to get to this spring and I have to rest my containers for about a week before using this water. However, I find these two minor inconveniences worth the fact that this is the only spring I am currently aware of that is tested by a conservation authority periodically. This makes me feel comfortable about consuming the water without any risk of getting ill.
I highly recommend this spring to those wanting to try spring water for the first time in a safe manner or those who, like myself, are regular spring goers and want to find a clean tasting, but tested source.
Saveourspring.ca
I made a new video about the Ancaster Artesian Well here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yblA88pJfUA
Thanks,
Mo