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.
Residents serviced by the Municipality of Victoria County's water utility will likely see an increase in their water rates over the next two years following a decision by Nova Scotia's utility regulator. However, the amount that rates will jump is still uncertain, as the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board wants the municipality to submit a new rate study after the board took measures to insulate customers against significant rate hikes this year.
The Town of Annapolis Royal, N.S., issued a boil water advisory Friday, citing "apparent contamination" at the water utility and the possibility of unsafe water. People are being told to boil water for at least one minute before drinking or using it for any activity involving human consumption. The order started at 3 p.m. AT and remains in effect until further notice. On June 29, residents of the town had been asked to conserve water because of a failure in a section of the Granville Ferry water storage system.
The City of Regina is seeking input from residents on how to improve affordability for low-income property taxpayers and water utility customers in a new online survey. “Regina strives to be an inclusive, attractive and sustainable community where residents of all income levels can thrive,” said Mayor Sandra Masters in a recent news release. “We want to address affordability in a meaningful way, and we encourage all Regina residents to share their feedback on program options and their level of support for affordability programs by taking the survey.”
The first Indigenous owned and operated water utility in Canada developed by way of public-private-community partnership is a step closer to reality in the North Okanagan. A formal agreement has been signed between the Okanagan Indian Band Group of Companies, EPCOR and Enterprise Canada. The companies will identify commercial opportunities in utilities-related infrastructure, including water, wastewater and irrigation management, to provide quality drinking water and ensure adequate firefighting supply to serve the OKIB reserve lands.
Atlantic region First Nations Chiefs and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) have signed a framework agreement on a ground-breaking water utility that will oversee the drinking water and wastewater operations for over half of the First Nations population in the region. The agreement will transfer control and management of water and wastewater services for 15 Mi'kmaw and Wolastoqey communities from ISC to a single First Nations-led organization, and comes with a $2.5 million federal investment to get the water authority started on recruitment, training of staff and other operational costs.
