Water shortages: guidance for private well owners

Nearly half of Nova Scotians rely on a private well for their drinking water. If you own a private well, you are responsible for its maintenance and for making sure your water is safe to drink. This page provides guidance specifically for private well owners before, during and after a water shortage.

For general information about drought conditions, monitoring data and province-wide impacts, visit Drought and Water Shortages.

Know your well

Understanding your well helps you recognize problems early and make better decisions during dry conditions. Make sure you know the following:

• find out whether you have a dug well or a drilled well. Dug wells are shallower and more likely to be affected by water shortages
• look up your well in the Nova Scotia Well Logs Database to find construction details such as depth, casing length and estimated yield
• know where your well is located on your property and keep the area around it clear of substances that could affect your water such as fuel, chemicals, animal waste and septic system components
• if you have a water treatment system, know what it treats for and keep up with its maintenance schedule

For a detailed overview of well ownership responsibilities, refer to Private Wells: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Family's Water (PDF).

Preparing for dry conditions

Taking steps before a water shortage can reduce the impact on your household and help your well recover more quickly:

• conserve water
  Reduce non-essential water use such as lawn watering, pressure washing and filling pools. Fix leaks and consider installing low-flow fixtures. Refer to Every Drop Counts (PDF) for more information.

• understand your water quantity
  Learn how much water your household uses each day and how much your well can reliably supply. A typical household needs roughly 340 litres per person per day. Refer to Section 6 of the Complete Guide to Protecting Your Family's Water (PDF) for guidance on estimating your needs and well yield.

• consider storage
  A cistern or storage tank can supplement a low-yield well by storing water pumped at low rates throughout the day for use during peak demand. For more information, refer to the Drop on Water factsheet (PDF).

• consider well upgrades
  Replacing a dug well with a drilled well, deepening an existing well, or adjusting pump settings can improve resilience. Some municipalities have lending programs to help qualifying homeowners upgrade their wells. Contact your municipality to find out if a program is available.

• test your water regularly
  Routine testing establishes a baseline so you can detect changes early. Test for bacteria at least once a year and for chemical contaminants at least every five years. Visit Test Your Well Water for more details.

If your well runs dry

If your well runs dry or water levels drop significantly, take these steps to help protect your well and your water supply:

• keep other water sources out of your well. Pouring water into a well from a lake, river, truck or other source can introduce bacteria, chemicals and other contaminants. The added water will drain into the ground and could damage the well
• stop using the well and allow it to refill over time or after significant rainfall, if possible
• ask a certified well contractor whether the pump intake can be lowered without damaging the well if water levels have dropped. Do not attempt this yourself unless you are confident it can be done safely
• secure an alternate water source while your well recovers

Alternate water sources

If your well cannot meet your household needs, you will need a temporary water supply.

• approved sources only: fill cisterns or containers only with water from a municipal water supply or a registered public drinking water supply
• avoid surface water: water from lakes, rivers, streams, natural springs and roadside springs is not a reliable drinking water source and may not be suitable to drink
• hauled (trucked) water: potable water hauled by truck must come from an approved supply and be transported in a way that protects water quality. The Best Practices Guide for Potable Water Haulers in Nova Scotia (PDF) sets out the requirements. It covers approved sources, tank and equipment standards, chlorine management, cleaning, disinfection and testing
• purchased water: make sure any water you purchase has been tested and is safe for consumption, and that the storage container is clean

Cleaning and sanitizing storage containers

Any container you use to store drinking water must be cleaned and sanitized before use:

• clean thoroughly with dish soap and warm water, then rinse
• mix 1 teaspoon of household liquid bleach (no added scent or fabric softener) with 1 litre of water
• pour the solution into the container and shake well, making sure the bleach solution coats the entire inside surface
• let sit for at least 30 seconds, then empty
• let the container air dry. Keep it covered until you use it

After water returns: bringing your well back into service

After a water shortage, well water levels may take weeks or months to return to normal. Do not assume your water is safe just because water is flowing again. A water shortage can change the quality of your water, even if it looks, smells, and tastes the same as before.

Check that your well has recovered enough to restart

Before restarting your well, look for signs that water supply has returned:

• water flow has returned to normal. Taps run steadily without sputtering, air or pressure loss
• the pump runs normally. It does not cycle rapidly on and off or run continuously without building pressure
• water use does not immediately cause the well to go dry again
• water is clear. There is no cloudiness, sediment, or discolouration when first drawnThese signs suggest your well may have recovered enough to resume limited use.

Avoid opening your well or attempting to measure water levels yourself. If water levels need to be measured directly, this should be done using proper equipment or by a qualified professional.

Return the well to service

Once water supply has returned, you can begin using your well again. Take a cautious approach:

• start with low water use. Gradually increase use over several days to avoid stressing the well
• watch for changes. Stop using the well if water becomes cloudy, has sediment or shows changes in taste or smell
• keep your well sealed. Do not open the well or attempt repairs unless necessary, as this can introduce contamination

Only disinfect your well if needed. Disinfection is recommended only if:

• you receive a positive bacteria test result, or
• there has been a known contamination event (for example, flooding or surface water entry)

If disinfection is required, follow the Well Disinfection Procedures (PDF).

Testing is the key step before drinking the water. Do not rely on appearance or flow condition. Test your water and confirm the results meet drinking water guidelines before resuming normal use. The Drinking Water Interpretation Tool can help you understand your water test results.

When to consider hiring a qualified professional

Most wells can be returned to service using the steps above. However, there are situations where professional assistance may be needed. Consider contacting a certified well contractor if:

• your well repeatedly runs dry after water appears to return
• you are unable to restore normal water pressure or flow
• you suspect damage to the pump, wiring, or plumbing system
• you need to adjust the pump depth or assess water levels directly
• water quality problems persist after the well has recovered

A certified well contractor can inspect your system, identify mechanical issues and use specialized equipment to safely assess and service the well.

During widespread drought conditions, contractor availability may be limited. If you are unable to access a professional right away, continue to use water cautiously and rely on testing to confirm whether the results meet drinking water guidelines before you drink it. The Drinking Water Interpretation Tool can help you understand your water test results.

You can find a certified well contractor at the Licence and Certification Listings webpage.

Test your well water

You cannot tell whether your water is safe by how it looks, smells or tastes. Water that appears perfectly clear can still contain bacteria or chemicals that affect its quality. This is always true, but it is especially important after a water shortage, drought or any disruption to your well.

When to test

Test your well water in all the following situations:

• after a water shortage or drought, before you start drinking the water again
• after your well has gone dry, even partially
• if your water has changed colour, become cloudy or contains sediment, even if it later returns to normal
• if you notice any change in taste, smell, or appearance
• after any flooding, heavy rainfall or ground disturbance near the well
• after disinfecting or servicing the well or plumbing
• on a regular schedule, even when there are no obvious problems

What to test for

At minimum, test for bacteria. When a well goes dry, the pump and plumbing are exposed to air, making them more susceptible to bacterial contamination. Also test for general chemistry and metals if:

• your water has been discoloured, cloudy, or has had sediment
• you have noticed any recent change in water conditions
• you have not tested for chemistry in more than five years

Lower water levels during a drought can increase the concentration of naturally occurring metals such as arsenic, uranium and manganese. These concentrations may remain elevated even after water levels recover.

Why testing matters after discolouration

If your water becomes discoloured or contains sediment during or after a water shortage, it is a sign that conditions in your well have changed. Even if the water clears up on its own, you should still test it. Discolouration can indicate that silt, sediment or other material has been disturbed in the well. Bacteria and chemicals can be present in water that appears normal after it clears. Testing is the only way to confirm your water is safe.

How to test

Pick up sterile sample bottles from a Nova Scotia lab that tests drinking water, then follow the sampling instructions:

• how to test for bacteria (PDF)
• how to test water chemistry

Find a complete list of certified well water testing labs in Nova Scotia.

What to test for

At minimum, test for bacteria. When a well goes dry, the pump and plumbing are exposed to air, making them more susceptible to bacterial contamination. Also test for general chemistry and metals if:

Understanding your results

Use the online Drinking Water Interpretation Tool to evaluate your test results and understand what they mean.

For more detailed guidance on bacterial quality, chemical quality, treatment options and maintenance, refer to Private Wells: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Family's Water (PDF).

Recommended testing schedule

Test	How often
Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli)	At least once a year
Chemical contaminants (full package)	At least every five years
After a water shortage, dry well, or change in water conditions	Immediately, before drinking