HALIFAX—The province’s opposition NDP is calling on the government to provide free well-water testing for Nova Scotians in response to a Star Halifax investigation into lead in our drinking water.

The investigation — part of a national collaboration of media outlets and universities across Canada, including Star Halifax, Global News and the University of King’s College — found that more than half of Nova Scotians on wells are at risk of having dangerous levels of lead in their drinking water due to corrosive groundwater.

In a province where nearly half the population draws their water from a well, that means as many as 247,000 people are at risk. But only about 12 per cent of Nova Scotians are testing their water in line with government recommendations — for bacteria every six months and chemicals every two years — according to a 2014 survey.

Experts say the only way to get more people to test their water is to subsidize testing.

“This is a particularly Nova Scotian problem and it’s a problem that in my view, the government of Nova Scotia should address,” NDP leader Gary Burrill said in an interview on Tuesday.

The NDP tabled a bill earlier this year that would make testing for bacteria, arsenic, lead and uranium free for Nova Scotians drawing their water from wells. As an opposition bill with a majority Liberal government, it’s unlikely to pass and it remains on the floor of the legislature.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority expanded its testing services this year, announcing that residents could bring well-water samples to the authority for testing. But only arsenic and uranium are included in the basic chemical analysis package that costs about $30. Lead testing is included in the $50 package and two more packages over $100.

Making water testing free for Nova Scotians on wells would cost $30 to $40 million per year, according to the department of environment. But Environment Minister Gordon Wilson said last month that the provincial government’s responsibility ends at raising awareness.

“I’m not saying $30 to $40 million is too much,” he said. “I’m saying at this point in time, the responsibility is with the homeowner. Same as keeping the roof from leaking on your home, it’s important to keep your water system safe.”

Burrill said it’s “complacent” for the minister to say its homeowners’ problem.

“I think the government’s job is to address a problem as serious as this, and the way to do that is with a testing subsidy program,” he said.

“I support whatever the government has to invest in order to see that the people of Nova Scotia are not poisoned by their water.”

Progressive Conservative leader Tim Houston said “healthy, clean drinking water is fundamental to our existence,” but he’s not calling for free well-water testing.

“There’s definitely a role for government in making sure this is top of mind for Nova Scotians,” Houston said.

“In terms of private residents, I think it’s up to homeowners to do the testing, but the government has a definite role to play in making sure they’re aware, of reminding them. I think that would be a good use for technology.”

Houston said the province should keep a database of when the 200,000 households on private wells have last had their water tested, and then remind them to do so. He said such a program would be “relatively inexpensive.”

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While Houston agrees that the government’s job ends at raising awareness, he doesn’t think it’s been fulfilling that responsibility.

“I don’t think many people are aware,” he said.

The department of environment declined to comment further on well-water testing.

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