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.
The problem, which the city has said is because of aging pipes, has led to complaints from people living on dozens of streets in various parts of the city. Some took their concerns to city council earlier this year, saying they tested their water and found unsafe amounts of iron. Danis went to speak to council last month. "I would love for something to happen, but when is it going to happen?" she asked. "We have no idea."
The water was drinkable, but not palatable to people in Melbourne last October. Yellow water in Southwest Middlesex had many concerned about its safety. Average daily water flow out of the Melbourne standpipe was down 94 percent in October. Mayor Alan Mayhew brought up the issue during a presentation by Sam Smith with the Ontario Clean Water Agency at the March 23 council meeting. The Tri-County Water board is doing a study to see if the discolouration could be avoided.
Where would we be without water to drink, to wash and cook with, and to keep us healthy and alive? Water is essential. But as we mark another World Water Day, many First Nations communities in Canada still don’t have access to safe water. Five years ago today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a commitment of $1.8 billion over five years to address the water crisis so First Nations wouldn’t need to boil water to make it drinkable, rely on bottled water, or evacuate their communities because their water is unsafe to use.
