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.
“Upgrading our water metering system will help our community conserve water, manage our infrastructure responsibly, and ensure that residents are being billed fairly for their water use,” Mayor Christine Fraser said in a press release. “Throughout the upgrade process, the township will work with property owners to make sure the meter installation is completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
A mysterious patch of fluorescent green water that appeared in Venice's famed Grand Canal Sunday was caused by a chemical commonly used in underwater construction to help identify leaks, environmental authorities say. The chemical – fluorescein – is non-toxic. It remains unclear how the substance ended up in the canal, but the Regional Agency for the Environment in Venice (ARPAV) said given the volume released it was unlikely to be an accident.
Newmarket is moving into the second phase of its mandatory water meter replacement program. The new digital infrastructure will provide residents and the town better access to data to allow for the future ability to track and monitor usage and identify leaks and losses before they become a larger issue, the town said in a statement. The first phase began in March 2021 and upgraded water meters for about 7,000 households. The second phase of the program will replace water meters for about 18,000 homes.
