Rural Nova Scotia Residents Raise Concerns Over Potential Groundwater Contamination from Uranium Exploration

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:17:00 +0200

Rural residents in Nova Scotia rely heavily on private wells for their drinking water, cooking, bathing, and livestock needs, making groundwater protection a critical issue. On March 26, 2025, the province repealed a long-standing ban on uranium exploration and mining, sparking widespread alarm in rural communities. The article, written by Alan Timberlake of Citizens Against Uranium Exploration and Mining in Nova Scotia, highlights the potential risks of drilling activities disturbing uranium-bearing rock and mobilizing contaminants into fractured groundwater systems. A 2018 provincial review indicated that drilled wells face a significantly higher risk of uranium contamination compared to dug wells, leaving residents without easy alternatives if supplies become tainted. The piece draws on the research of Dr. Rosalie Bertell, a respected epidemiologist who studied low-level internal radiation exposure from sources like inhaled dust, dissolved uranium in water, and radon gas. Bertell do