Groundwater Chemistry Maps

The Nova Scotia Geological Survey Division maintains the Nova Scotia Groundwater Chemistry Database (NSGCDB), which contains over 10,000 inorganic chemistry analyses collected from 1954 to present. The NSGCDB was compiled from various federal, provincial and municipal groundwater chemistry data sources, including well water quality monitoring data from government buildings, and Nova Scotia Environment groundwater chemistry data from registered public drinking water supplies, pumping tests, municipal groundwater systems and provincial observation wells. The database excludes known contaminated sites in order do represent naturally-occurring conditions.

The distribution of selected water chemistry parameters from the NSGCDB were published as part of a series of provincial bedrock groundwater chemistry maps. The selected parameters include alkalinity, bicarbonate, carbonate, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, fluoride, sulphate, chloride, hardness, total dissolved solids, pH, nitrate + nitrite as nitrogen, arsenic, uranium, iron, and manganese.

The range in concentrations for each parameter is presented on the maps along with information pertaining to the distribution of the data and their relationship to the Health Canada Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Because groundwater chemistry is influenced by the geologic materials encountered, the bedrock groundwater regions are also shown on the maps for comparison.