Online Interactive Map for Viewing the Relative Risk of Manganese in Water Wells

This application was developed to show areas of Nova Scotia where there is a relatively high-, medium- or low-risk of manganese in water wells.

Manganese occurs naturally in Nova Scotia groundwater and exposure to manganese in drinking water is associated with neurological effects in humans, especially infants. The risk map was developed to communicate the relative risk of manganese in bedrock water wells based on the analysis published in the open file report 'A Manganese in Well Water Risk Map for Nova Scotia'.

The high-risk zone is defined as bedrock units where more than 15% of well water samples exceed the manganese drinking water guideline of 120 µg/L. In the medium-risk zone, between 5% and 15% of well water samples exceed the guideline, and in the low-risk areas less than 5% of well water samples exceed the guideline.

Testing your well is the only way to find out whether manganese is a concern in your well, so it is important to test your water no matter where you live. Recommendations for well owners for the testing and treatment of manganese can be found here.

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Staff Contact – Gavin Kennedy