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.
Authorities have issued a boil water advisory in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, as of late July 20 due to construction on the city's water main. Authorities are warning the public to boil drinking water before consumption. The water boil advisory is scheduled to last until July 23, but extensions to the constructions schedule and lingering water supply issues are possible. Business disruptions are likely, especially for companies that rely on large quantities of water.
Flood-impacted Manitobans with private wells and cisterns can test their water supply for free, as the province pushes to waive off fees temporarily. The move will subsidize costs related to water testing. In an announcement on May 8, the province said the push aims to lift some of the financial burdens caused by flooding. It comes into effect Monday and ends on Aug. 31.
The mayor, Michel Angers, says he can't make information about the plant's problems public because the city is considering legal action. Grégoire's husband, Eric Bonfanti, wonders whether a push to save money led the city to choose the wrong firm to design the plant. He wants the mayor to make expert analyses public so he can judge for himself. "Most people aren't idiots,"' Bonfanti says. "'If you made a mistake, admit it!"
