* UPDATE – PUBLIC NOTICE: COWIE WELL
Issued on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 1:40 p.m.
In consultation with Nova Scotia Public Health, Cowie Well, located at 733 Main St., Liverpool, has reopened under a boil water advisory.
Prior to using water from Cowie Well, water must be boiled for at least one minute after it reaches a rolling boil before using the water for any purpose that may result in consumption, such as drinking, preparing infant formulas, preparing juices and ice cubes, washing fruits and vegetables, cooking, or dental hygiene, etc.
The boil water advisory for water taken from Cowie Well shall remain in effect until further notice.
Signage has been posted at the well to advise users of the boil water advisory.
Nova Scotia Public Health is continuing its investigation into the source of a suspected case of E. coli in the area. The Region of Queens Municipality continues to assist in that effort. The investigation may take several days to complete.
PLEASE NOTE – Cowie Well is not part of the Region of Queens Water Utility, and Water Utility customers are NOT affected by the boil water advisory. The boil water advisory only applies to water collected from Cowie Well.
Additional public updates will be provided as they become available.
Issued on Friday, May 22, 2026 at 8:40 a.m.
During the evening of Thursday, May 21, 2026, Region of Queens Municipality was contacted by Nova Scotia Public Health advising that they were investigating a suspected case of E. coli. in the area.
In the process of carrying out its investigation, the affected individual reported to Nova Scotia Public Health that they had recently accessed water from Cowie Well (located at 733 main St., Liverpool).
Nova Scotia Health and Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change posted signage at the Cowie Well to advise users and, after receiving notification, municipal staff turned off public water service access at Cowie Well. Water access at Cowie Well will remain closed until further notice.
Region of Queens Municipality is supporting Nova Scotia Public Health in its investigation.
ABOUT COWIE WELL
The public water source at Cowie Well is a filtered and UV disinfected water source.
Water at the well is tested weekly for contaminants, including E. coli. The most recent testing conducted at the well on Tuesday, May 19, returned showing no signs of contamination.
Results from weekly water testing at Cowie Well are fully available to the public on the Region’s website at https://www.regionofqueens.com/municipal-services/works/water-utility/.
With the investigation continuing and based on information available at this time, the Region of Queens advises the public that out of an abundance of caution water taken from Cowie Well should be boiled for at least one minute then allowed to cool before consuming.
We will continue to share additional information with the public as it becomes available from Nova Scotia Public Health. If you have questions, you can contact the Region of Queens at 902-354-7170.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
Originally issued on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 10:14 p.m.; updated at 11:09 p.m.
Please be advised that Cowie Well is closed to public use until further notice.
Out of an abundance of caution, we are also advising at this time that water retrieved from the well on Wednesday, May 20, or Thursday, May 21, not be consumed.
A further update will be provided on Friday as soon as additional information becomes available.
