gov.ns.ca / Environment / Air, Land, Water / Water / Drinking Water > Private Wells

Private Wells

Approximately 46% of Nova Scotians rely primarily on groundwater from dug or drilled wells for their private supply. Private well owners are responsible for ensuring that their wells are constructed to provincial standards and for testing their water regularly to confirm that it is free of any natural or man-made impurities.

General Information

About Private Drinking Water Supplies
The Drop on Water - Fact Sheets
Boil Water Fact Sheet (PDF: 66k)
A Guide for Private Well Owners:
English (PDF: 333k), French (PDF: 766k)
Potable Water Hauler Guidelines (PDF: 1.9mb)
Well Disinfection Procedures (PDF: 16k)

Your Well Water

This booklet series describes what private well owners can do to maintain clean, safe drinking water from their well to protect their health.

Your Well Water 1: Is It Safe To Drink? (PDF: 149k)
Your Well Water 2: Fixing Bacterial Quality (PDF: 169k)
Your Well Water 3: Understanding Chemical Quality (PDF: 753k)
Your Well Water 4: Water Treatment Options (PDF: 573k)
Your Well Water 5: Maintaining Your Water Treatment (PDF: 146k)
Your Well Water 6: Real Estate Transactions (PDF: 195k)

Note - On page 3 under "Test Well Yield", accessible drilled wells only need to be tested for one hour with one hour recovery. The test should not be repeated. Inaccessible wells require two tests, separated by 24 hours.

L’eau de votre puits

Cette série de brochures décrit ce que les propriétaires de puits privés peuvent faire pour assurer la salubrité de l’eau et protéger ainsi leur santé.

L’eau de votre puits : Est-elle bonne á boire (PDF: 165k)
L'eau de votre puits 2: Rétablir la qualité microbiologique (PDF: 229k)
L’eau de votre puits 3: La qualité chimique de l’eau (PDF: 769k)
L’eau de votre puits 4: Les options de traitement (PDF: 592k)
L’eau de votre puits 5: L’entretien de votre système de traitement (PDF: 161k)
L’eau de votre puits 6: Les traisactions immobilières (PDF: 212k)

Remarque : À la page 3, sous « Vérifier le rendement du puits », les puits forés accessibles doivent faire l'objet d'un essai d'une heure, suivi d'une période de rechargement d'une heure. L'essai ne doit pas être répété. Les puits forés qui ne sont pas accessibles doivent faire l'objet de deux essais, effectués à une intervalle de 24 heures.

Well Construction

Before You Construct a Water Well (PDF: 656k) (Note: The drinking water guideline for arsenic, on page 24, has been changed to 0.010 mg/L effective May 2006)
Nova Scotia Well Logs Database
Well Contractors (Well Drillers, Diggers, Pump Installers and Public Drinking Water Supply Contractors)

Water Testing

Tips for Testing Your Well Water
Water Testing Labs in Nova Scotia
Sample Collection and Preservation:
Chemical/Physical Quality and Microbiological Quality

Water Conservation and Protection

Become a Water Steward in Your Community (PDF: 131k)
Save Water in Your Home (PDF: 91k)
Taking Care of Your Water Supply (PDF: 83k)
Water, A Natural Recycler (PDF: 169k)
Water Conservation (PDF: 156k)