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Well water testing in Nova Scotia

Last verified 2026-10-27. Nova Scotia Environment drinking-water labs list (novascotia.ca/nse/water/waterlabs.asp) and well-water testing page, fetched 2026-10-27

More than 40% of Nova Scotia households get their drinking water from private wells, according to the Government of Nova Scotia. Private wells are not monitored like municipal systems — owners need to test regularly with an approved lab.

Nova Scotia recommends testing for bacteria at least every year and for chemical contaminants every five years (or more often if conditions change).

How to test

  1. Pick an approved lab from the Nova Scotia Environment list (or another CALA/ISO 17025 accredited lab that accepts private well samples).
  2. Ask for a Presence/Absence (PA) test for total coliform and E. coli for bacteria.
  3. For chemistry, ask the lab for the province's recommended package (includes arsenic, uranium, manganese, nitrate, lead, and many others — see the official page).
  4. Pick up bottles and drop off samples at Nova Scotia Health locations or at the lab you chose. Follow the lab's hold-time rules for bacteria samples.

Free or subsidized programs

No province-wide free private-well testing program found

Nova Scotia Environment lists approved labs and sample drop-off options through Nova Scotia Health. Testing is paid unless a local health unit or clinic announces a special event. We found no current province-wide free voucher program as of 2026-10-27.

Source

Labs serving this province

AGAT Laboratories

Unit 122, 11 Morris Drive
Dartmouth, NS B3B 1M2

902-468-8718 · Website

Central Region. Bacterial: yes. Chemical: yes. Toll-free 1-888-468-8718. Minimum billing may apply.

ALS Canada Ltd

Unit 13, 100 Wright Avenue
Dartmouth, NS B3B 1L2

902-707-4888 · Website

Central Region. Bacterial: yes. Chemical: yes. Also 902-483-5298. Minimum billing may apply.

Bureau Veritas Laboratories — Bedford

200 Bluewater Road
Bedford, NS B4B 1G9

902-420-0203 · Website

Central Region. Bacterial: yes*. Chemical: yes*. Toll-free 1-800-565-7227.

Environmental Services Lab (QEII / Nova Scotia Health)

5788 University Avenue
Halifax, NS B3H 1V8

902-473-8466 · Website

Central Region. Bacterial: yes. Chemical: yes. CALA-accredited. Toll-free 1-888-473-8466.

Harris Industrial Testing Service (HITS)

21 Old Cobequid Road
Waverley, NS B2R 1P4

902-861-2232 · Website

Central Region. Bacterial: no. Chemical: partial.

NS Department of Agriculture — Harlow Institute

College Rd.
Bible Hill, NS B2N 5E3

902-893-6565

Central Region. Bacterial: yes. Chemical: partial.

Precision Water Testing

1-875 Main Street
Dartmouth, NS B2W 3V2

902-462-5566 · Website

Central Region. Bacterial: yes. Chemical: partial. Minimum billing may apply. Confirm current address/phone with the lab.

Bureau Veritas Laboratories — Sydney

465 George Street, Unit G
Sydney, NS B1P 1K5

902-567-1255 · Website

Eastern Region. Bacterial: yes. Chemical: yes. Toll-free 1-888-535-7770.

Envirosphere Consultants Limited

Unit 5 - 120 Morison Dr.
Windsor, NS B0N 2T0

902-798-4022 · Website

Western Region. Bacterial: yes. Chemical: partial.

Yarmouth Regional Hospital

50 Vancouver St.
Yarmouth, NS B5A 2P5

902-742-3541

Western Region. Bacterial: yes. Chemical: no.

Home test kits

Store strips and mail-in kits can be useful between official tests, but they do not replace an accredited lab for health decisions. Prefer SCC- or CALA-accredited labs (or your province's listed labs) for bacteria and chemistry panels.

What your results mean Free checklist

Questions

How often should I test in Nova Scotia?

The province says at least every year for bacteria and every five years for chemical contaminants, or sooner after floods, well work, or taste/odor/color changes.

Do home test kits count?

Home strips can hint at a problem, but decisions about drinking water should come from an approved or accredited lab.

Sources

Other Atlantic provinces

New Brunswick · Prince Edward Island · Newfoundland and Labrador