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).