Practical answers to help you choose a test, prepare your sample and find a convenient drop-off location in Nova Scotia.
Naturally occurring chemicals, including arsenic and uranium, can affect Nova Scotia well water. Appearance, smell and taste cannot establish whether your water is safe to drink. Read the provincial well-water guidance.
A natural element found in soil and bedrock. Long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water is associated with increased risk of skin, lung, and bladder cancer.
Naturally found in rocks and soil. High levels can lead to kidney toxicity. It is colourless, tasteless, and odourless.
Usually enters drinking water from plumbing materials (pipes, solder, faucets). It is toxic, especially to young children and pregnant women.
Package details reviewed October 6, 2026. Follow the links for current options and location information.
Precision Water Testing is based at 515 Main Street in Dartmouth. Through The Water Shed collection network, you can pick up a sample kit and drop off samples at nine depots across Nova Scotia. Check the directory for current sample acceptance hours before collecting.
Find your nearest sample depotYes. The Kentville depot is at I Got Skate, 33 Park Street, Kentville, NS B4N 1L9. It is part of The Water Shed sample collection network for testing by Precision Water Testing in Dartmouth. It is a collection point, not an on-site laboratory.
View Kentville depot detailsPackage 1 checks Total Coliform and E. coli. Package 2 covers 24 metals, including arsenic, uranium, lead and manganese. Package 3 combines both. Package 4A adds general water chemistry to the metals panel; Package 4B includes that chemistry panel plus bacteria.
Compare all five testing packagesPackage 4A measures metals, minerals and general water chemistry, including hardness, pH and alkalinity. Package 4B adds Total Coliform and E. coli to everything in 4A. Bacteria testing is not included in 4A, and neither package tests for every possible contaminant.
Compare Packages 4A and 4BStarting prices on The Water Shed Water Testing portal are CAD $90 for Package 1, $160 for Package 2, $250 for Package 3, $335 for Package 4A and $425 for Package 4B. Confirm current options, taxes and any shipping charges on the package page.
See package prices and inclusionsListed standard turnaround is 5–7 business days for Packages 1–3 and 10+ business days for Packages 4A–4B. Listed rush options are 2–3 and 4–5 business days respectively. Confirm availability and your reporting deadline before collecting a time-sensitive sample.
Check package turnaround optionsUse The Water Shed Water Testing portal to complete the Sample Submission & Chain of Custody form. The form records collection, handling and submission details and supports both property owners and representatives submitting for clients.
Start your online sample submissionGet the correct bottles for your selected package and follow the instructions supplied with the kit. Bottle preparation, storage and holding times depend on the test. Check depot acceptance hours before collecting, complete the submission details, and call 902-334-8378 after drop-off to arrange pickup.
Plan your sample drop-offNova Scotia Health’s water-testing page currently advises bacteria testing every six months and chemical testing every two years. The provincial well-water page gives different minimum intervals, so confirm the schedule appropriate to your well and circumstances with the laboratory or public health.
Read Nova Scotia Health guidanceYes. Water can contain contaminants even when its appearance, smell and taste seem normal. Your neighbour’s test also cannot establish the quality of your own well. Test your water regularly for the parameters relevant to your supply.
Read provincial well-water guidanceConfirm the lender’s, buyer’s or other requesting party’s required parameters, collection process and reporting deadline before ordering. A package name alone does not establish that it meets every transaction or compliance requirement. Our team can help match the requested tests.
Get help with your testing requirementsContact the laboratory to discuss the result and follow public-health advice for the specific contaminant. A result above a health-based guideline needs attention before the water is used for drinking. Treatment and follow-up testing depend on the contaminant and your water supply.
Understand results and next stepsA comprehensive risk map for Nova Scotia based on observed uranium concentrations in bedrock aquifers. This report highlights high-risk areas, particularly in the South Mountain Batholith and other granitic regions.
View Uranium Risk Map (PDF)An arsenic risk map for Nova Scotia based on well water concentrations in bedrock aquifers. It identifies high-risk zones, especially in the Goldenville Group and South Mountain Batholith areas.
View Arsenic Risk Map (PDF)