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.
Sample results are in but the water in Puslinch is still stinky and private well owners are told it is their responsibility to treat their water. “The results show odour causing organics were detected in untreated well water,” said in an update from the Township of Puslinch website with information provided by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
Before a boil water advisory for Hillsburgh residents was lifted last week, Erin fire chief Jim Sawkins was already praising the town’s response during a July 13 council meeting. “Our first priority last night was to get the message out, to get them to stop drinking their water,” the chief said of department’s July 12 response to the advisory. “Before I left last night, after buying them seven pizzas, I said, ‘You know what, you should be proud, the town is proud. You guys came together very quickly and did this,’” Sawkins told council of a conversation he had with the 25 volunteer firefighters who hand-delivered notices to affected residents.
A $13.2 million investment in clean water infrastructure was announced by three levels of government today for the northern communities of Tracadie and Rivière-du-Nord. “Investments in this critical infrastructure will benefit residents and support growth in these communities,” said Réjean Savoie, minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation. “We are pleased to work with the municipalities of Tracadie and Rivière-du-Nord to help fund these projects.”
A water main break south of Capreol has caused a service interruption for approximately 1,300 customers. Crews are onsite and making repairs. Residents who are currently under a drinking water advisory in Capreol, will have access to safe drinking water via the City of Greater Sudbury’s Water Buggy. The Water Buggy will be located at the Suez Bulk Water Filling Station located north of 5081 Capreol Rd. (Regional Rd. 84), Hanmer, until the advisory has been lifted. Water is also available at City water filling stations. Please bring your own containers.
Due to a continued trend of falling water levels in the Pine Coulee Reservoir, the Town of Claresholm and the M.D. of Willow Creek have implemented stage 3 water restrictions. This water restriction impacts the town of Claresholm, Hamlet of Granum and the Willow Creek West Waterworks System (this system consists of the Claresholm Industrial Airport and Pipeline Water Co-op).
This investment will enable the improvement, relocation and rebuilding of two lift stations in Belle-Baie, as well as improvements to sanitary sewer lines. These upgrades will decrease the risk of flooding for the two lift stations, which are currently located in an area that is vulnerable to rising sea levels. In addition, residents of Bathurst will benefit from the renewal of all drinking water lines, sanitary sewer lines and storm sewers along Chaleur and Sainte-Anne streets. This investment will also enable drainage improvements and the installation of sidewalks. The installation of curbs and a storm system will reduce the storm water infiltration and reduce sanitary sewer overflows at Bathurst’s wastewater treatment facility.
Authorities have issued a boil water advisory in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, as of late July 20 due to construction on the city's water main. Authorities are warning the public to boil drinking water before consumption. The water boil advisory is scheduled to last until July 23, but extensions to the constructions schedule and lingering water supply issues are possible. Business disruptions are likely, especially for companies that rely on large quantities of water.
The Regional District of Central Kootenay has instituted Level 2 water restrictions because of continuing hot, dry weather. Watering of lawns (including new lawns), gardens, trees, and shrubs is now, under Level 2, only permitted between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., and between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. The previous Level 1 restrictions allowed watering overnight. Watering by can or hand held hose is still permitted at any time. The Level 2 restrictions also place time restrictions on the washing down of sidewalks and driveways, and prohibits the filling of swimming pools. The RDCK restrictions apply to rural areas. Nelson has its own water restrictions that apply within the city limits.
Ottawa residents can expect letters from Service Line Warranties of Canada (SLWC) to reach their mailboxes in the coming weeks. The letters will provide homeowners with detailed information related to the optional and voluntary Service Line Warranties program, including coverage options and the enrollment process for interested residents. Water and sewer/septic service lines, including the stormwater sewer line, connect a homeowner’s property to the City’s water and wastewater systems. Homeowners are responsible for repairs to the portion of the service lines located on their property. If a leak, break or clog occurs in the private portion of these lines, the homeowner is responsible for hiring a plumber and paying any of the associated repair costs.
Parts of the province are seeing unprecedented lack or rainfall and low streamflow levels, according to the latest wildfire and drought update from the provincial government. A majority of sites in the province are measuring an extremely low percentile of their usual levels. "On the streamflow side of things, somewhere in the order of [a little less than] one-third of the stations across the province are at record-low flow," River Forecast Centre head Dave Campbell told reporters at a news conference Thursday.
MARK RUFFALO: It's basically what they call forever chemicals. They’re long chain fluorocarbons designed to withstand any kind of breakdown. TAMARA KHANDAKER: That's actor and activist Mark Ruffalo talking about PFAS chemicals, also known as forever chemicals. They've been around since the 1940s and used in everything from non-stick pans to takeout containers to cosmetics and fire retardant. But flash forward to today, and the long lasting manmade chemicals have been found inside Canadian blood samples brought in through the air and dust we breathe and even in our drinking water.
It can be said that British Columbia is Canada’s two-season province, with West Coast living consisting of a cycle between rain and fire. Fire season has arrived and experts say it’s time to put your rainy day habits behind you. “All we can really do is adapt to more extreme drought,” said John Richardson, a professor in the department of forest and conservation sciences at the University of British Columbia. “We have to remember that same water is used for drinking, bathing, flushing, for fighting fire,” he said.
The City of Chilliwack is moving to stage 3 watering restrictions to conserve water into the fall after a discussion and vote by council Tuesday afternoon (July 19). City council approved extending the summer watering restriction period until Oct. 15, as well as instituting new triggers for implementing further restrictions. “As dry conditions continue throughout the province, there are lots of small actions we can all take to help conserve water,” said Mayor Ken Popove. “For example, you can take shorter showers, turn off the tap when you brush your teeth, only run full loads of laundry or dishes, and regularly check your home for leaks.”
Emergency repair work continues on the primary water main serving all Trenton Water Service customers west of the Trent River. On Monday, July 17, Quinte West Water/Wastewater staff discovered a significant water main break in the primary Trenton Water Service water main located under the Trent River beside the D. J. MacDonald Bridge in Trenton. On Tuesday, City staff engaged an underwater repair contractor to install a temporary repair clamp on the water main. Some customers experienced disruptions to water flow and pressure while the temporary repair work was completed. This repair work has stabilized the supply of water to customers in the affected service. However, the underwater location of the break may result in ongoing challenges until the water main is permanently repaired.
The City of Nelson has reminded residents that the city is still under Stage 1 water restrictions. Here are the rules, according to a news release Tuesday. If you live at an even-number address, you can only water your lawn using a sprinkler or irrigation system on Wednesday and Saturday between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. If you live at an odd-number address, you may only water your lawn using a sprinkler or irrigation system on Thursday and Sunday between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Regardless of your address, you may water vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs using a sprinkler between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on any day. You can water these items using a hose with a shut-off nozzle or a drip irrigation system at any time. All hoses must have an automatic hand-held shut-off device/nozzle. “Conservation is a community effort to reduce strain on the city’s drinking water supply and fire protection,” the news release states. “Working together, we can offset further restrictions.”
A park in Lachine, Que., will become soon help Montreal avoid future flooding. The city is redesigning Brewster Park, near Lac Saint-Louis, using concepts from the realm of phytotechnology — the application of plants to solve engineering and science problems — to make it into a "sponge park" that will absorb water during heavy rainfall events.
Saugeen Ojibway Nation Water Walkers led by women from the Chippewas of Nawash and Saugeen First Nations are travelling nearly 600 kilometres around the boundary of their territory this month. Hundreds of members from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation are expected to participate in the walk and carry a kettle of water and an eagle staff throughout the traditional SON territory.
The Ontario government is investing $6 million to support 30 multi-year projects to help protect, conserve and restore the Great Lakes. These investments will help reduce plastic litter, excess nutrients and road salt entering lakes, rivers and streams, advance climate resiliency, and make significant progress on restoring environmentally degraded areas of the Great Lakes.
Known for its scenic beauty and as a favourite destination to cool off for locals and tourists alike, Queensland Beach and Bayswater Beach are temporarily closed due to water quality concerns. “We did our regular testing for both Queensland and Bayswater Tuesday and we got the results on Friday and unfortunately, the samples did not meet the requirements of the Canadian Recreation Water Quality Guidelines,” explained Paul D’eon, director of Nova Scotia Lifeguard Service.
In Grande Cache, at a packed open house about the proposed mine held in July, questions about its environmental impact are top of mind for many in attendance. Maxim Power, the company pitching the new project, says that the mine will be underground, meaning local water will be more protected than in a surface mine.
