Temporary changes to chemical and bacterial water testing at Nova Scotia Health facilities, effective immediately

Nova Scotia Health Environmental Laboratory Services water testing within Central Zone (Halifax Regional Municipality, Eastern Shore and West Hants areas) is being suspended until further notice. This is in effect immediately for at least two weeks and then will be reassessed at that time.

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This is being done temporarily in order to create capacity for COVID-19 testing.​

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Since the QEII Lab is the central site for chemical water testing in Nova Scotia, this means chemical and bacterial water testing is not available in most of the province at present. However, bacterial water testing is still available in Western Zone at Yarmouth Regional Hospital.

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Municipal, registered and private water supply owners are advised to send samples to an alternate accredited water testing facility. A list of alternate testing facilities is online: http://novascotia.ca/nse/water/waterlabs.asp. Please note, this web link directs you to Nova Scotia Department of Environment, and lists water-testing laboratories across the province.

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The Nova Scotia Health facilities listed on this page (QEII Health Sciences Centre, Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Yarmouth Regional Hospital), will not accept water for chemical or bacterial analysis until further notice, except for Yarmouth Regional Hospital where bacteria water tests are still being performed.​

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Nova Scotia Department of Environment recommends that Nova Scotians on well water have it tested for bacteria every six months, and every two years for chemical parameters.