Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
RCMP in Nova Scotia are investigating mischief to fire hydrants in Yarmouth that caused flooding to a home. Yarmouth Town RCMP received a report Thursday morning that fire hydrants had been tampered with on Brunswick, King, Beacon, Main, Marsha and Water streets. Officers learned that several hydrants had caps removed and had been activated, allowing the water to flow, between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The water flooded the basement of a home on Marsha Street.
“Three interdependent projects that are in close physical proximity will increase the capacity to treat and manage wastewater and storm water and increase access to potable water. The Vancouver Street intersection will be improved, including the water lines supplying the Yarmouth Regional Hospital," reads the project description. "In the neighbouring combined sewer overflow, a tidal check valve will be installed to prevent tidal water from entering the combined sewer system. The Gardner Street Lift Station will be disconnected from the storm water connection to receive a new exterior dedicated line and outfall."
The Province is investing a total of $3.9 million in infrastructure upgrades in Mahone Bay, Yarmouth, Digby and Clare that will help prepare the municipalities for future growth. “Our municipalities depend on modern infrastructure to be competitive and attract new residents to their communities,” said Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr. “By making these investments, we will improve the efficiency of the water and wastewater systems, ensuring residents and businesses have the services they expect and depend on every day and laying the foundation for continued growth for years to come.”
The Mi'kmaki Water Walk is underway around the Bay of Fundy. The 40-day, 994-kilometre ceremonial walk began May 24. It's in honour of water as a sacred life force. Walkers started in Overton, N.S., near Yarmouth, and it will end in Blacks Harbour, N.B. Ducie Howe is a Mi'kmaw grandmother from the Sipekne'katik First Nation and she's leading the walk. CBC's Information Morning Halifax spoke with her on Thursday when she was in Brooklyn, N.S. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Nova Scotia Power has suspended its application to charge ratepayers $18 million for cost overruns on an ill-fated hydro dam as water migration at the construction site persists. The utility said it is not clear yet what impact continued water infiltration will have on the replacement of the small dam at Tusket near Yarmouth. Unexpected water seepage has already doubled the cost to $36 million and pushed the project three years behind schedule.
The Nova Scotia government is buying bottled water and dispatching tanker trucks to a southwestern stretch of the province grappling with an extended drought. The Emergency Management Office said it has been working in Argyle, Barrington and Yarmouth to make sure people whose wells have run dry have access to drinking water.
