1 of 46

Healthy Wells and Water Security

Rural Water Watch Association

Rural Water Watch was established in 2017 to help rural Nova Scotians address water quality issues.

Our work focuses on creating awareness about the need to regularly test well water quality to understand the link between contaminated water and illness and disease and to learn about ways to protect and manage private water supplies. Take Away Message: test your water!

Increase residents’ understanding about the link between well water quality and potential acute and chronic health issues.

Activities include sharing information through their annual Healthy Wells Day event, and community-based workshops. We partner with communities interested in undertaking water sampling events and researches in government and at universities interested in the issue of safe water and the prevention of illness and disease.

2 of 46

Sustainable Groundwater for Rural Communities: Kingsburg

July 26^th 2025

3 of 46

2023 Board of Directors

Fatou Secka, BEng, MASc,

EIT

Director

Dave Redden, BEng MASc

PhD Candidate

Vice-president

Gillian Stanton, BEng, MASc,

EIT

Director

Kyle Roach, PhD

BEng., MASc

Director

Lauchie MacLean, PhD

Secretary/Treasurer

Courtney Bonner, MPlan President

4 of 46

Initiatives and Partners

5 of 46

Topics:

Part One:

Background

Taking Care of Your Well Water – a 4-point plan

Part Two:

Climate Change Impacts on Private Well Water Supplies

Demonstration and Accessing Online Resources

6 of 46

Water Testing is a Homeowner Responsibility

Water quality can only be determined through testing

Testing identifies the chemical, bacteriological and physical characteristics of your well water

You cannot taste, smell or see bacteria or metals like Lead, Arsenic and Uranium

Testing is required to ensure your drinking water is safe

Background

7 of 46

Water table – higher in wet season and lower in dry season or during high use

Dug well in surface materials

Main Well Types

Bedrock

Drilled well mainly in bedrock or locally sand and gravel deposits

8 of 46

Taking Care of Your

Well Water

Maintain

Protect well

area

Test

Treat

A Four Point Action Plan

9 of 46

Testing

Types of Contaminants

Biological (every six months)

Pathogens - Bacteria, Parasites, etc.

Chemical (every two years)

pH & corrosivity
Hardness
Metals
Man-made pollution – pesticides, fertilizers

Physical

Suspended & dissolved solids
Colour, taste

?

10 of 46

Pathogens

Common in dug wells
Total coliform
E. coli (wildlife or septic origins)
Health concerns

Pathogens – things like bacteria – you may have heard the term coliforms. They are an indicator there is a problem somewhere in your well or system.

Bacteria and coliform are commonly found in dug wells.

Finding coliforms in your well may indicate an imperfect seal around your well cap or casing.

Coliforms are tough organisms and are used as indicators of general bacterial contaminants. If your water sample comes back as coliform negative, it is considered pathogen free by Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines (0/100mL).

E. coli indicates contamination of your water source by fecal material. This could be either human or animal. Common sources include on-site septic system leakage, animals, agriculture, leaky municipal waste lines. E. coli can cause GI diseases, which can be fatal (0/100mL).

Parasites and viruses are not common… but possible. Don’t drink water from a spring.

11 of 46

Hardness

Property of mineralized water
Clogs plumbing
Impacts water heater efficiency
Creates high soap demand
Health effects

12 of 46

Metals

Geology dependent

Iron
Manganese
Arsenic
Uranium
Lead
Others

13 of 46

Manganese – neurological effects

metamorphic bedrock

Arsenic – cancer

metamorphic or granitic bedrock

Uranium – kidney damage

granitic bedrock

Lead – neurological effects

Service lines, fixtures with Pb
Natural occurrence is rare

Metals & Health

Iron (+ Mn) – Aesthetics (bitter taste)

Overburden, metamorphic bedrock

Metals can have long term health effects.

Fe: Iron can cause scaling at levels that are much lower than are a health concern. At lower concentrations it can also stain laundry and plumbing fixtures, and cause bacteria slimes in wells.

Mn: For the first time, Health Canada set a guideline based on the health effects of manganese in May of 2019. 0.12mg/L.

As: Arsenic is widespread throughout most of southern NS. It occurs naturally in bedrock. Drilled wells in certain geologic formations may have elevated levels of arsenic. In most gold districts in NS, the bedrock contains high levels of As. In the past, some old dug wells that were ‘rocked-up’ with mining waste rock have elevated levels of As as the AS leaches out of the well construction materials themselves.

U: Uranium naturally occurs in specific geologic environments in NS. Granitic rocks that underlie geographic areas of NS may have elevated levels of Uranium. In some areas, sedimentary rocks also have elevate levels. 0.020mg/L

Pb: While lead can occur naturally in drinking water, most likely it is due to corrosion from pipes and plumbing fixtures. Lead can cause high blood pressure and kidney damage. Lead pipes were banned in 1975, and lead solder was banned in 1986. Corrosive water is more likely to release lead from plumbing. The best way to prevent lead in your drinking water is to replace all lead fixtures (0.005mg/L ALARA)

14 of 46

Aesthetics & physical characteristics

Sediment and dissolved solids
Taste
Colour

Fe

Mn

15 of 46

Taking Care of Your

Well Water

Maintain

Protect well

area

Test

Treat

16 of 46

Look around your well…

Piles of wood or leaves?
Downed apples/fruit, flowers, gardens?
Garbage/compost?
Household chemicals or automobile fuels?
Pet ‘visitation’ areas?
Parking/salt use?

Protect Well Area

17 of 46

Protect Well Area

18 of 46

Taking Care of Your

Well Water

Maintain

Protect well

area

Test

Treat

19 of 46

Assess physical condition of well and components

Get qualified professional for advice/repairs

Check out our Well Assessment Checklist

Well Assessment & Maintenance

Old rocks

Cracks

Missing, Broken or cracked cover

Surface run-off

Gap

20 of 46

Water Table

Proper Dug Well Construction

Overland run-off away from well head

Dry season

Land sloped away from well

Wet season

Infiltration and flow of surface water and precipitation

Good seal between:

Clayey soil & well
well crocks

Clean gravel (Reservoir)

Concrete or Bentonite clay apron

Bedrock

21 of 46

Taking Care of Your

Well Water

Maintain

Protect well

area

Test

Treat

22 of 46

Treatment

23 of 46

Treatment

Well Disinfection by Chlorination

Best method for quickly treating a well that has tested positive for coliform bacteria or E. coli

Procedure and resampling

24 of 46

Ultraviolet Disinfection

UV light damages the DNA of microorganisms and renders them inactive or kills them

Naturally occurs with the sun
Not a filter
New technology uses LEDs
No chemical use
May need pre-filtration to remove Fe, Mn and suspended solids

25 of 46

Climate Change

Adaptation & Water Security

26 of 46

SCCF Project

Climate Change Impacts on Community Groundwater Resources in Nova Scotia

Partnered with Rural Water Watch and communities across the province.

Project goal: to model the impact of future climate change on groundwater recharge and to develop coastal risk maps and adaptation plans for groundwater salinisation and onsite wastewater treatment system inundation.

27 of 46

By 2100, the average temperature is expected to rise by 4.5°C. There will be more wildfires, droughts, and water shortages.

RISING TEMPERATURES

The annual precipitation is projected to increase by 10% with more frequent and heavy rainfall and less snowfall.

PRECIPITATION CHANGE

High intensity storms will make landfall more frequently causing serious damage.

INCREASED STORMS

Sea levels could rise by up to 1m by 2100. Storm surges and high tides threaten access to freshwater.

SEA LEVEL RISE

Climate Change in Nova Scotia

CHANGING OCEANS

Sea temperature is projected to increase by at least 5°C. Changing currents, decreasing oxygen levels, and acidification have detrimental impacts.

As about 42% of Nova Scotians rely ongroundwater, and this coastal province is vulnerable to climate change, it is important to be aware of the many climate change impacts that are specific to Nova Scotia.

Temperatures are rising globally. By 2100, the average daily temperature is projected to be 4.5 degrees warmer. In the winter, the average temperature will be above 0 degrees. There will be more wildfires, droughts, and water shortages.

By the end of the century, the annual precipitation is projected to increase by 10%. There will be more frequent and heavy rainfall and less snowfall.

High intensity storms will make landfall more frequently causing serious damage. This is due to rising ocean temperatures as the storms will not lose strength as they once did entering colder waters.

Sea levels could rise by up to 1m by 2100. Storm surges and high tides threaten access to freshwater. Saltwater intrusion is a serious threat for coastal communities that rely on coastal aquifers for their access to drinking water.

Sea temperature is projected to increase by at least 5. Changing currents, decreasing oxygen levels, and acidification have detrimental impacts on human activities such as fishing as well as ecological functions such as habitat structure.

https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/changing-climate

https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-getting-warmer-2022.pdf

https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-precipitation-patterns-2022.pdf

https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-more-intense-storms-2022.pdf

https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-sea-levels-2022.pdf

https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-ocean-conditions-2022.pdf

28 of 46

Saltwater Intrusion

With rising sea levels, coastal wells are more vulnerable to seawater intrusion in the water supply. As sea levels rise, the water table underground also rises and the salt water moves more inland. This movement of seawater can cause it to infiltrate coastal aquifers and contaminate the water supply.

Inclusion of 1% of saltwater into freshwater aquifers can render the water undrinkable. Saltwater intrusion is a serious threat to coastal wells.

https://www.watereducation.org/aquapedia/seawater-intrusion

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/81c09a9c7f5440efa971ea07d25062c6

Moore, W. S., & Joye, S. B. (2021). Saltwater Intrusion and Submarine Groundwater Discharge: Acceleration of Biogeochemical Reactions in Changing Coastal Aquifers. Frontiers in Earth Science, 9, 600710. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.600710

29 of 46

Flooding

More common with climate change.
Already an issue in Nova Scotia.
Affects water quality
Coastal flooding linked to saltwater intrusion

With increased rainfall, stronger storms, and sea level rise are going to continue to cause severe flooding events which can have disastrous effects on our infrastructure.
The province has already experienced devastating flooding last year.

Flooding can cause bacteria and chemicals to enter your drinking supply so it is important to take the appropriate steps after a flood such as assessing the damage, repairing it, and water testing. I have included some resources in this presentation that I can share afterwards.

Coastal flooding can lead to saltwater entering fresh groundwater and threatens the availability of freshwater

https://novascotia.ca/nse/climate-change/nsfaf-flooding.asp

https://www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/waterres-quality-drinkingwater-pdf-floodingandwater.pdf

https://novascotia.ca/nse/water/docs/FACT.SHEET.Well-Water-After-a-Flood.pdf

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1029/2022WR032614

30 of 46

Drought

More common with climate change.
Already an issue in Nova Scotia.
Affects water quantity & quality

31 of 46

Wildfires

More common with climate change.
Already an issue in Nova Scotia.
Affects water quantity & quality

Post-Wildfire Drinking Water Safety

Do not use your well.
Flush and disinfect your well and wait for 5 days before sampling.
Disinfect your well by chlorination
Drop off your sample on the same day you took it.
Test your water for bacteria and chemicals.

With increased droughts, wildfires are becoming more common, and they are quite serious and deadly phenomenon. The devasting 2023 fires in this area and Upper Tantallon and Shelburne were the worst to ever occur in Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, these types of events will be occurring more frequently, but the province has many resources for emergency preparedness.

Wildfires affect drinking water quality due to contamination from the fire itself, the products used to fight the fire, and the chemicals that seep into the water supply from damaged items. If your property was affected by the wildfire, your well could also be damaged. If the fire was caused by drought, it is also possible that your well may be dry or may have become more dry due to the evaporation.

If you have a well and live in an area that was evacuated because of wildfires, take steps to make sure your drinking water is safe. First of all, do not use your well. Before your test, you need to flush and disinfect your well and wait for 5 days before sampling. Disinfect your well by chlorination. You also need to drop off your sample on the same day you took it. Test your water for bacteria and chemicals. There are many resources out there that I have linked in this presentation.

https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjfr-2024-0032

https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthlinkbc-files/wildfire-its-effects-drinking-water-quality

https://novascotia.ca/wildfire-support/

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environment/drinking-water/well/safety-during-after-emergencies.html

32 of 46

Resources

Biological contaminants: Test every 6 months
Chemical contaminants: Test every 1-2 years

WATER TESTING

Drought: medium risk
Lead: high risk, all dug wells are high risk for corrosivity

GROUNDWATER CHEMISTRY MAPS

Nova Scotia Health: South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater
Water laboratories: Bureau Veritas Laboratories in Bedford
Drinking Water Interpretation Tool

WHERE TO TEST?

Uranium: low risk in the bedrock
Manganese: high risk in the bedrock
Arsenic: medium risk

Water quality is typically an immediate concern for well owners, due to the serious health impacts. As our project is more focused on long-term effects to water quality and quantity, our project partners such as Rural Water Watch and the provincial department of Environment and Climate Change have many resources to provide more immediate support.

Due to the risks associated with wells, the province recommends regular testing. For biological contaminants, it is recommended that well owners test their water every 6 months and every 1-2 years for chemical contaminants.

You can test your water with the Nova Scotia Health and water laboratories. For NSH, he Queens General Hospital in Liverpool offers water testing. The closest water laboratory is Bureau Veritas Laboratories in Bedford.

The drinking water interpretation tool is a great resource that helps you understand the results from the water testing.

The province has created several maps and other resources to better understand the composition and the risks associated with your local geology.

Drinking water interpretation tool: https://novascotia.ca/nse/dwit/Form

Water Testing Resources
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a1cf639fda644d65978648d4ff7833bb
https://novascotia.ca/well-water-testing/
https://www.nshealth.ca/laboratory-services/water-testing
https://novascotia.ca/nse/water/waterlabs.asp

Groundwater chemistry maps: https://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/water-resources/groundwater-chemistry-atlas.asp

Interactive maps: https://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/geoscience-online/maps-interactive.asp

Drought
https://fletcher.novascotia.ca/DNRViewer/?viewer=DroughtIndex

Lead
https://fletcher.novascotia.ca/DNRViewer/index.html?viewer=Drilled_Corrosive_Groundwater_NS.Relative_Corrosivity_of_Groundwater_in_Drilled_Water_Wells
https://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/data/pubs/19ofr02/ofr_me_2019-002.pdf
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/water-quality/water-talk-minimizing-exposure-lead-drinking-water-distribution-systems.html

Uranium
https://fletcher.novascotia.ca/DNRViewer/index.html?viewer=Uranium_Risk

https://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/data/pubs/20ofr01/ofr_me_2020-001.pdf

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/water-quality/water-talk-uranium-drinking-water-2010-health-canada-brochure.html

Manganese
https://fletcher.novascotia.ca/DNRViewer/index.html?viewer=Manganese_Risk

https://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/data/ofr/ofr_me_2021-002.pdf

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/water-quality/water-talk-manganese.html

Arsenic

https://fletcher.novascotia.ca/DNRViewer/?viewer=As_Risk_Wells

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/healthy-living/your-health/environment/arsenic-drinking-water.html
https://novascotia.ca/nse/water/arsenic.asp
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-arsenic/page-2-guidelines-canadian-drinking-water-quality-guideline-technical-document-arsenic.html
https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/migration/hc-sc/hl-vs/alt_formats/pacrb-dgapcr/pdf/iyh-vsv/environ/arsenic-eng.pdf

33 of 46

Resources

Information on more than 100,000 water wells in the province, including information on well locations, geology and well depth and yield.
You can search your property, sometimes you have to search by previous owners, it is not always easy to navigate.

Nova Scotia Well Logs Database

Network of 40 active provincial wells for monitoring water quality and quantity
Used to evaluate the impact of human activities on groundwater and long-term trends associated with issues such as climate change

Nova Scotia Groundwater Observation Well Network

Nova Scotia Real-Time Shallow Aquifer Monitoring Network

Community-based monitoring of dug wells across the province
You can build your own meter and join the network.

34 of 46

Resources

The program offers low-interest financing for systems that can improve the supply of potable water for homes in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg.

WATER SUPPLY UPGRADE FINANCING - CLEAN FOUNDATION

Support for improving the energy efficiency of your home or installing clean energy options
Low-interest financing to help you cover the cost of your upgrades

CLEAN ENERGY FINANCING - MUNICIPALITY OF THE DISTRICT OF LUNENBERG

35 of 46

Flooding – Climate Adaptation

Flood risk map: helps with planning! Coastal and low-lying areas are most at-risk.

Emergency planning: identify roles, plan escape routes, keep emergency supplies on hand, include vulnerable people in the planning, monitor weather and flowforecasts.

Maintain vegetation: helps to absorb and retain floodwater, especially in a floodplain, wetland, and on a waterfront.

“Flood-proofing”: seal doors & windows, installing sump pumps, using flood-resistant building materials, moving electrical systems or furnaces to higher floors.

Permeable surfaces: using plants and more permeable surfaces can absorb the runoff of water.

For flooding, NSCC has created a flood risk map for the province. It is not a complete map yet but it still provides valuable information for planning. Coastal areas and low-lying areas are most at-risk for flooding and becoming permanently underwater.

It is really good to do some emergency planning before a flood happens so that you can be as prepared as you can get during a flood. Identify roles for during the flood, plan escape routs, keep emergency supplies on hand, include vulnerable people such as older adults and people with disabilities in the planning, and monitor weather and flowforecasts to better understand where the flooding will occur.

If you own property that is in a floodplain, a wetland, or on a waterfront, maintaining the vegetation in that area can help absorb and retain floodwater.

You can also do some "flood-proofing". These methods are not infallible but they can help reduce the impacts such as sealing doors and windows, installing sump pumps, using flood-resistant building materials, and moving electrical systems and furnaces to higher floors.

Permeable surfaces such as pavement and concrete are sealed surfaces that cause water to runoff and pool. Using plants and more permeable surfaces can help absorb the runoff of water.

Water level & flow: https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/

https://agrgims.cogs.nscc.ca/CoastalFlooding/Map/

36 of 46

Drought – Climate Adaptation

Xeriscape: plant drought-tolerant native species such as staghorn sumac, northern bayberry, virginia rose

Natural systems: protect, restore, and expand wetlands and forests that keep watersheds healthy.

Rainwater harvesting: collecting & storing rainwater; helps reduce the impact of flooding

Greywater recycling: reusing household water for other uses such as gardening

If you garden, you can plant a xeriscape (word of the day) which is a drought tolerant gardens that minimize or even eliminate the need
for irrigation and includes plants that are adapted to dry soils. Creating a xeriscape reduces the pressure on freshwater resources. plant drought-tolerant native plants such as staghorn sumac, northern bayberry, or virginia rose just to name a few.

Or even better, you can protect, restore, and expand natural systems that keep watersheds healthy such as wetlands and forests.

To reduce the stress that may be put on your well, you can do rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling. Rainwater harvesting is exactly what it sounds like: collecting and storing rainwater. It helps mitigate flooding as storing rainwater reduces the amount of water entering storm sewers.

Greywater recycling is reusing water from your sinks, showers, washing machines for other uses. Although rainwater and greywater are not drinking water quality, they can still be used for activities like flushing toilets or gardening.

https://nsinvasives.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CCIS-NSISC-Grow-Me-Instead-Guide_2023_EN_web.pdf

https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2014/schl-cmhc/NH15-474-2013-eng.pdf

https://greywateraction.org/greywater-reuse/

37 of 46

Wildfires – Climate Adaptation

Remove fire hazards: Remove any fire hazards, such as dried branches and debris, near your home, well, septic tank, and other structures on your property.

Back-up water supply: Keep filled drinking water jugs on hand in case of emergency.

Emergency planning: Identify roles, plan escape routes, keep emergency supplies on hand, include vulnerable people in the planning, monitor weather and wildfire conditions, familiarize yourself with local emergency management organizations.

Protect your home: Firesmart Canada offers many tips on how to best prepare your home in case of a fire, everything from home construction to regular yard maintenance.

Remove any fire hazards, such as dried branches and debris, near your home, well, septic tank, and other structures on your property.

Prepare a back-up water supply in case of emergency since your well will not be useable for several days.

It is really good to do some emergency planning before wildfire season happens so that you can be as prepared as you can get during a fire. Identify roles for during the fire, plan escape routes, keep emergency supplies on hand, include vulnerable people such as older adults and people with disabilities in the planning, and monitor weather and wildfire conditions to better understand the spread of the wildfire, and familiarize yourself with local emergency management organizations.

https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/hzd/wldfrs-prp-en.aspx

https://firesmartcanada.ca/firesmart-at-home/

38 of 46

Our Work

Field methods: remote sensing, geophysical surveys, groundwater and soil monitoring
Numerical modelling: Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model and 1D representations of groundwater recharge

Remote Sensing in Truro, NS

WalkTEM in Northern Shore, NS

We use a variety of methods to achieve our goals. For our field methods, we use tools such as remote sensing, WalkTEM, and thermal approaches across the province.

Our fields methods compliment the modelling as they help to calibrate and verify the models.

For numerical modelling, we are using the simultaneous heat and water model as well as creating 1D representations of groundwater recharge. Models help us understand potential climate change impacts.

We are currently doing climate change modelling and what we learn from this will inform the development of coastal risk maps for saltwater intrusion vulnerability and onsite wastewater treatment risk. Our results can also help support climate adaptation planning for municipalities and local policy development.

https://sites.google.com/view/dalhydro/projects/nova-scotia-groundwater-project

39 of 46

Our Work - Drought

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada Historic Drought Map
ArcGIS model

40 of 46

Our Work - Saltwater Intrusion

Rural coastal communities will be greatly affected

The evolution of saltwater intrusion after coastal flooding

Baseline measurements at 49 locations across the province

41 of 46

Our Work - Saltwater Intrusion

42 of 46

Topics:

Background

Taking Care of Your Well Water – a 4-point plan

Climate Change Impacts on Private Well Water Supplies

Demonstration and Accessing Online Resources

43 of 46

More Information and Resources

Water Testing: NS Health

https://www.nshealth.ca/water-testing

NSE Drinking Water Interpretation Tool

https://novascotia.ca/nse/dwit/

NSE Story map Testing Your Private Well

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a1cf639fda644d65978648d4ff7833bb

NSDNRR interact maps (Geoscience Atlas, Groundwater Atlas, Arsenic, Corrosivity, Droughts)

https://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/geoscience-online/maps-interactive.asp

NSE water shortage webpage

https://novascotia.ca/watershortage/

NSE using well water after a flood

https://novascotia.ca/nse/water/docs/FACT.SHEET.Well-Water-After-a-Flood.pdf

44 of 46

Website

www.ruralwaterwatch.org

�Facebook

www.facebook.com/ruralwaterwatch

�Email

ruralwaterwatch@gmail.com

45 of 46

Contact information: sianborden@dal.ca

Thank you!

46 of 46

Demonstrations?

Drinking Water Interpretation Tool

https://novascotia.ca/nse/dwit/

Taking a water sample