The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Region committed to safe water Halton Region is committed to ensuring that all residents in Halton have access to safe drinking water. We are responsible for the operation and maintenance of all municipal water supplies in Halton, and through Halton's owned and operated water purification plants we deliver safe, high quality drinking water. However, for residents who rely on private wells for their water supply, Halton's Health Department offers water testing and information sessions for private well owners so you can ensure your water is safe. As part of our on-going program to provide information and education about private well maintenance to well owners, Halton Region will be hosting two Well Water Information Sessions on Wednesday, April 18, at the Limehouse Memorial Hall (12389 Fifth Line), and Wednesday, April 25 at the Nassagaweya Community Centre (11264 Guelph Line). The sessions will be open to the public from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. At the Well Water Information Sessions, private well owners will have the opportunity to gain valuable information regarding well water quality, well construction and maintenance, water treatment systems and water conservation. You are invited to have your well water tested for nitrate at no charge by bringing a Gary Carr sterilized jar containing at least one cup of drinking water. If you already have an approved water sample bottle supplied by the Health Department, it can be dropped off and sent for bacteria testing. Public Health Inspectors and other related professionals in the water industry will also be available at the Information Session to answer questions concerning well water quality. Information will also be provided on the results of the Halton Region Rural Drinking Water Study, conducted in 2006. Through attending these sessions, you will be more informed about ensuring the safety of your well water. If you would like more information, please visit our website at www.halton.ca/health, or call us at 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-4HALTON (1-866-442-5866). --Gary Carr is the chair of Halton Region Acton Food Drive Saturday LISA TALLYN Staff Writer Acton residents are asked to put a few extra items on their shopping list this week for the Scout, Guides and Calvinist Cadets Annual Food Drive for Acton FoodShare Saturday (April 14). Several youths will be going door to door in Acton that morning collecting food for the food bank that regularly serves approximately 200 people. The most needed items include canned meat, fish, stew, soup, vegetables, baked beans, tomatoes, pasta and fruit, peanut butter, jam, ketchup, dry pasta, rice and cereal, juice, pudding, drinking boxes (suitable for school lunches), tea, instant coffee, hot chocolate, sugar, dry milk, cookies and crackers. The youths will begin picking up the donations starting at 9 a.m. so everyone is asked to put their items out at their front door by 8:30 a.m. This is the third year for a spring drive in Acton, replacing the former fall drive. Arlene Humphries, chairperson of the food bank, said it works well, providing food when it's most needed. She said the food bank has been quite low on food, but that is actually a positive with the food drive just around the corner. "If we can bring our stock down at this time of year then people are getting fresh food," said Humphries. Humphries said over the past months she has noticed an increase in the size of the families they are serving, therefore requiring more food. The food bank does not have a goal for the drive, but past drives have brought in between 8,000 and 10,000 lbs. "Whatever food we get, we're happy with," said Humphries. Along with food, the youths will be collecting monetary donations as well. The money will be used to buy perishable items for food bank clients including meat. Anyone who wants a receipt should include their name and address when turning over their donation. Anyone missed during the drive can still donate, by dropping food off at Bethel Christian Reformed Church when it is open, at the food bank at 350 Queen St., Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon, or by calling the food bank at 519-853-0457 to arrange a pickup. Collection starts at 9 a.m.