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.
Southeast England faces a hosepipe ban later this month, after dry weather and record demand strained a utility’s capacity to provide enough drinking water. The ban from June 26 will impact households in Kent and Sussex, South East Water Ltd. said in a statement on Friday. People using hosepipes after that date to water gardens, wash cars and fill swimming pools will risk fines of as much as £1,000 ($1,280).
Businesses and people living west of Edmonton are being asked to limit water use amid hot, dry weather. The City of St. Albert, Alta., asked residents and business owners to conserve water Monday. The three reservoirs that store water for community use and fire protection are at “near critical” levels, according to the city.
Residents in Guelph are currently forbidden from watering their lawns, and may be fined if they do. A number of regions in Ontario have implemented water restrictions due to the drier than usual weather. “We’re definitely in a dry spell, and as a result, we are using more water in terms of watering lawns and various activities,” said Mari MacNeil, environmental services at the City of Guelph. “Guelph is on an underground water base system. We need to be very careful about our water use.” Environment Canada said since the middle of June, southwestern Ontario has been drier than normal.
In response to low river levels, increased water use and dry weather, the City is bumping watering restrictions up to level 2 red today. At level 2 red: lawn watering is not permitted, decorative gardens can only be watered between 7-9 a.m. and 7-9 p.m. on odd or even calendar dates based on address number; odd numbered houses can water on odd numbered dates, and even numbered houses on even dates, no restrictions on watering food gardens and trees, at–home vehicle washing (cars, boats, trailers, etc.) is not permitted, decorative fountains must recirculate water or be turned off, garden or outdoor hoses in use must have a shut-off nozzle, and wasting water, such as washing driveways, decks and sidewalks, is not permitted.
The Municipality of Barrington has changed its Emergency Water Assitance Plan. In the past five years, the municipality has seen very dry conditions and according to CAO Chris Frotten explained the need for a change. “With extremely dry weather in the last five years, this is no longer an emergency. It is more of a new normal that we must all prepare accordingly for, ” Frotten said. Previously when homeowners in the municipality saw wells dry up they would be able to visit local fire halls that would provide them with potable water.
