Regular Testing Key to Well-water Safety

The discovery of naturally occurring uranium in well water at the Malagash Mine Community Club in Cumberland County highlights the importance of regular testing by well owners.

"We are advised that there is no immediate health risk in this instance," Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash said today, Jan. 9. "But I think it serves as a reminder to well owners of the need to test the quality of their water regularly.

"With about 40 per cent of our population getting their water from wells, maintaining quality must be a shared responsibility with government. Well owners are responsible for testing."

The uranium was discovered in October by department officials who were studying arsenic levels in the province.

Uranium is a naturally occurring element that appears in varying concentrations in the soil and bedrock of Nova Scotia. Drinking water can be treated to remove it.

The medical officer of health for the region advises that, although the levels of uranium found at the Malagash Mine Community Club were above Canadian guidelines, they do not pose an immediate health concern.

"The community club is used only a few times each month, so it's not likely that anyone would have been exposed to enough uranium to pose a health risk," said Dr. Shelly Sarwal.

Dr. Sarwal cautions that long-term exposure to uranium in drinking water can cause kidney damage.

"Since uranium is usually found in soil, other wells in the area may also be affected. If you live in the community, you should test your well water," said Dr. Sarwal. "Testing for and treating uranium in drinking water is the best way to reduce the health risk."

The maximum concentration of uranium recommended by the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality is 20 micrograms per litre. This is based on lifetime exposure -- a person would need to be exposed to this level of uranium over their lifetime in order to experience kidney damage.

The water at the Malagash club had a uranium level of 37 micrograms per litre.

The two most common drinking-water wells in Nova Scotia are household wells and multi-user wells, known as registered public drinking water supplies.

Homeowners everywhere with wells should test their water for bacteria every six months and for chemicals every one or two years.

Nova Scotia's 1,800 registered public drinking water supplies, such as the Malagash Mine Community Club, are required to test their water regularly and report any problems to the Department of Environment and Labour.