BILL NO. 168
(as introduced)
1st Session, 65th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
4 Charles III, 2025
Private Member's Public Bill
Well-water and Radon Safety Act
The Honourable Iain Rankin
Timberlea–Prospect
First Reading: October 2, 2025
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
An Act to Ensure Safe Well Water
and Indoor Air Quality
for Residents near Mining Operations
Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Well-water and Radon Safety Act.
"Department" means the Department of Environment and Climate Change;
"eligible property" means a residential property located within a testing zone established under Section 3;
(a) an opening in, excavation in or working of the ground for the purpose of mining or opening up or proving a mineral, gypsum, limestone or a mineral-bearing substance, but not for the purpose of bulk sampling;
(b) an ore body, mineral deposit or place where mining is being or has been carried on; and
(c) the ways, works, machinery, plant, wash houses and other buildings, structures and roadways below or above ground belonging to or used in connection with mining and related production;
"Minister" means the Minister of Environment and Climate Change;
"radon" means the radioactive gas identified by Health Canada as a significant health risk when found at levels exceeding national guidelines;
"well" means a groundwater source used for drinking water supply to one or more households, not connected to a municipal water system.
3 (1) The Minister shall make regulations establishing testing zones consisting of all residential properties located within, subject to subsection (2), a radius of five kilometres from the boundary of any mine.
(2) The Minister may adjust the size of a testing zone if evidence demonstrates that water or air quality impacts extend beyond five kilometres.
(3) The exercise by the Minister of the authority in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.
4 (1) Subject to Section 9, the Minister shall establish and administer a program to provide free well-water testing and radon testing to all eligible properties.
(2) Well-water testing must, at a minimum, include
(a) bacteriological analysis of total coliforms; and
(b) chemical analysis for metals, arsenic, uranium and other contaminants of concern as determined by the Department.
(3) Radon testing must include provision of a long-term radon test kit and analysis at no charge to the property owner.
5 (1) Households on eligible properties may access testing under Section 4
(a) upon initial request after designation of a testing zone; and
(b) once every three years thereafter.
(2) Additional testing may be provided under Section 4 if the Minister determines there is an imminent risk to public health.
6 (1) The Department shall provide results of tests directly to the property owner in plain language.
(2) Where results indicate a contaminant above Health Canada or Provincial guideline levels, the Department shall
(a) notify the property owner immediately;
(b) provide information on mitigation options; and
(c) subject to Section 9, offer technical and financial assistance programs if available.
7 (1) The Minister shall ensure that sufficient funds are appropriated annually for the administration of this Act.
(2) Costs of testing and analysis under Section 4 may not be charged to the property owner.
8 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations
(a) prescribing contaminants to be included in testing;
(b) establishing procedures for sample collection and analysis;
(c) setting out criteria for extending testing zones;
(d) respecting public reporting of aggregated results; and
(e) any matter the Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable for the effective administration of this Act.
(2) The exercise by the Governor in Council of the authority in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.
9 The sums required for the purpose of this Act shall be paid out of money appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2025 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created October 2, 2025. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
