Well Water Testing in Nova Scotia
Is your family’s water safe to drink? We’re here to tell you.Every recommendation we make starts with a test. We measure exactly what’s in your water, then tell you plainly what it needs, if anything. We test for homes in Halifax, Dartmouth, and Bedford, and across all of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton.
Buy a system from us after your test, and we credit the testing fee back toward it.
What We Test For
We check the most common water issues ourselves, right away, and send anything that needs specialized analysis to a certified lab for precise results.
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What We Test In-House
We test for the most common water issues right away:
- Iron
- pH
- Manganese
- Total dissolved solids (TDS)
- Tannins
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Lab-Referred Testing
For contaminants that need specialized analysis, we refer samples to a certified lab:
- Arsenic
- Uranium
- Bacteria (E. coli and coliform)
Arsenic, uranium, and bacterial testing are not included in standard water testing.
Your Water Test Could Be Free
If You Buy a System, Your Test Is on Us
If we perform your water test, and you decide to purchase a system from EcoWater Nova Scotia, we will credit you back the water testing fees toward your investment.
This applies to standard testing; arsenic, uranium, and bacterial testing fees are not included.
How Often to Test Your Well
NS Environment recommends testing wells for bacteria about twice a year. A simple rhythm works well: sample once in spring, once in fall, and you’ll catch changes long before you’d ever notice them at the tap. It’s also worth checking your water chemistry every couple of years.
Bacteria, arsenic, and uranium have no taste, smell, or colour, so a test is the only way to know whether they’re in your water.
Test Again After
- Heavy rain or flooding around the wellhead
- Any work on the well, pump, or plumbing
- A change in your water’s taste or clarity
- Moving into a home with a well and no recent results
How Booking a Test Works
- You book. Send the form or call 902-832-7873, and we’ll get back to you to set up a time.
- We test your water. Iron, pH, manganese, TDS, and tannins in-house. If you need arsenic, uranium, or bacteria results, we send a sample to a certified lab.
- We walk you through it. You get a plain explanation of what’s in your water and what, if anything, to do about it. Any system we suggest is matched to your actual results, never a sales script.
What Your Water Might Be Telling You
Some water problems show up at the tap. Others give no sign at all. Either way, a test tells you what you’re dealing with before anyone recommends a fix.
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Orange, Brown, or Black Stains
Stains on sinks, tubs, and laundry usually point to iron or manganese in your well water.
Iron & manganese guide -
A Rotten-Egg Smell
That smell is sulphur (hydrogen sulphide), a gas trapped in your water. A test shows which fix suits your supply.
Sulphur water guide -
Chalky Scale and Spotty Dishes
Scale on fixtures, spotty dishes, and stiff laundry are the everyday signs of hard water, which is common across Nova Scotia.
Hard water guide -
No Warning at All
E. coli and coliform don’t change how water looks, smells, or tastes. A certified lab test is the only way to know.
Bacteria guide -
Arsenic & Uranium
Both occur naturally in Nova Scotia bedrock, and you can’t see, taste, or smell either one. Only a special lab test finds them.
Arsenic & uranium guide -
A New Well or a New Home
Just drilled a well, or buying a home that has one with no recent results? Start with a test so you know where you stand.
Book a water test
Water Testing Questions
How often should you test your well water?
NS Environment recommends testing wells for bacteria about twice a year, and again after heavy rain, flooding, or any work on the well. It’s also worth checking your water chemistry every couple of years.
What does your in-house water test check for?
Right away we test for the most common issues: iron, pH, manganese, total dissolved solids (TDS), and tannins. For arsenic, uranium, and bacteria, we send samples to a certified lab.
How much does a water test cost?
We charge a standard testing fee, but if you go ahead and purchase a system from EcoWater Nova Scotia, we credit that fee back toward your investment. Arsenic, uranium, and bacterial testing are lab-referred and not included in standard testing.
What does coliform in well water mean?
Coliform is the broader bacterial group and the more common finding on a well report. A coliform result tells you that surface water, and whatever travels with it, has a way into your well. It doesn’t change how water looks, smells, or tastes, so a certified lab test is the only way to know.
Where can I get my water tested in Halifax?
Right here. We test water for homes across Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, and the rest of HRM, and throughout Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. Book online or call 902-832-7873. Our home base is 2156 Rocky Lake Dr in Waverley, and in-store visits are by appointment only.
Water Testing in Halifax, HRM, and Across Nova Scotia
- EcoWater Nova Scotia, 2156 Rocky Lake Dr, Waverley, NS B2R 1R3
- 902-832-7873
- ecowaterns@gmail.com
- Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. In-store by appointment only.
Evenings and weekends by appointment. Call or leave a message and we’ll confirm a time.
We test, install, and service water systems across all of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, from the Halifax metro and the South Shore to the Annapolis Valley and Cape Breton Island.
Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Lower Sackville, Waverley, Fall River, Hammonds Plains, Tantallon, Windsor, Truro, Elmsdale, Chester, Bridgewater, Lunenburg, Kentville, New Glasgow, Antigonish, Sydney.
Don’t see your town? We travel across the whole province. Get in touch and we’ll come to you.
Local guides: Halifax & HRM, Truro & Central NS, and Sydney & Cape Breton.
What Our Customers Say
Know What’s in Your Water
A test is the simplest way to know your water is safe, and the first step to making it better.