Groundwater Monitoring & Water Literacy
In 2024–2026, the Upper Hammonds Plains Community Land Trust partnered with NSCC Applied Research on the first community-based groundwater monitoring and water literacy project of its kind in our area.
About the project
Many households in Upper Hammonds Plains rely on private wells for drinking water, cooking, and daily life. Changing weather patterns, land use, and nearby development all affect how much water is available and how safe it is to drink — which makes good, local information more important than ever.
Working with NSCC’s Engineered Technologies Applied Research Lab (ETARL), UHPCLT helped lead a project that combined field mapping, well-monitoring hardware, lab testing, and an interactive map to build a clearer picture of groundwater across our community. The goal wasn’t just to collect data — it was to turn that data into practical, plain-language guidance that residents, community leadership, and decision-makers can actually use.
Thank you to NSCC Applied Research, our project partners, and everyone in the community who took part in monitoring, sampling, and workshops. Browse below to see what we found and where the work goes next.
FInal Report
Our final report from the project is now available, sharing what we found, what it means for local wells, and where this work goes next. The report highlights several key findings:
- The Numbers: 11 sites monitored, 26 water samples tested — with 77% flagging at least one issue worth a closer look, from bacteria to mineral content.
- Bedrock & Local Variation: We mapped two distinct bedrock groups across the community, helping explain why wells just a short distance apart can behave very differently.
- A Monitoring Toolkit: Field mapping, custom well-meter sensors, and an interactive (privacy-protected) map now give us a real-time picture of groundwater across the community.
- Water Literacy: Testing only helps if people know what it means — the report lays out plain-language guidance for what to do when a result is flagged.
- What’s Next: We’re proposing a Nova Scotia Water Resilience Intelligence Network to expand this work — alongside a $142,808 provincial grant already announced for local water-system upgrades.