The Region of Queens is asking people to restrict their water usage. (Pixabay)
As drought conditions continue throughout Nova Scotia, the Region of Queens is taking its own measures to save water.
The municipality announced Thursday on Facebook that it will no longer be offering bulk water services to fill dry wells or water tanks.
Local fire departments who carried this out have been notified.
The region said the public Cowie Well at 733 Main St. in Liverpool is still open for potable water. And Queens Place Emera Centre has shower facilities available by appointment.
Coastal Queens Place and the West Queens Recreation Centre in Port Mouton also offer potable water and shower facilities.
The municipality is also into its second week of voluntary water restrictions to deal with dropping levels in the Town Lake Reservoir. It has asked its water customers in Liverpool and Brooklyn to limit their usage.
Over a month after the Region of Queens issued a boil water advisory people are beginning to wonder if they’ll be compensated for the inconvenience.
Water utility customers around the Liverpool area haven’t had drinkable water since the treatment station was struck by lightning Aug 9.
Throughout the boil-water advisory Cowie well continues to be available to supply fresh, potable water to residents.
During the public comment period of the September 12 council meeting, a resident asked council if a refund would be coming to help people offset the increased power costs of boiling water as well as the money put out to buy water.
Mayor Darlene Norman says the Region of Queens won’t be providing a refund as the utility is its own legal entity and rates are set by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
Norman went on to explain the utility gets all its operating income from customers and is not part of the Region of Queens finances.
“Crediting is simply taking money out of your pocket and then hauling it back out the next month,” said Norman. “The utility must support itself from the customers within it. It’s not part of our Region of Queens bookwork. It has its own bookwork, and the utility must be supported from the users of the utility.”
Norman says the ongoing repairs are costing the utility a great deal and it is highly unlikely customers will see any rebate on their bills.
“Bills are based on water consumption, and it does not have to be potable water, it’s based on water consumption. And although many people understand and realize that this is an inconvenience,” said Norman, “it is, it is hardship for people who are boiling water, who have to travel to the well, which is free water and that is perfectly safe and potable, but it’s highly unlikely that there will be any change reflected on the bill in relation to consumption.”
The latest report from Mayor Norman indicated the utility is waiting to stabilize the power going into the plant before making the repairs to avoid any damage to the replacement equipment.
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Residents of Liverpool who rely on the Cowie well for water will have to look elsewhere for now.
During weekly testing, the Region of Queens discovered the presence of coliform bacteria and has temporarily closed the well.
Regulations from Nova Scotia Environment say the water must pass three consecutive tests before the well can be reopened.
According to Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman, the soonest the water could be available may be late next week as there must be three days between each test and the testing facility is closed over the weekend.
The municipality suggests anyone concerned about water they have recently taken from the well to dispose of it.
Norman says the municipality has provided bottled water in the past when dry conditions have impacted resident’s wells but won’t be doing so for this temporary well closure as there is plenty of water to go around.
“I would suggest that they reach out to a neighbour or a friend who has good clean water,” said Norman.
The Region of Queens will notify residents once the testing is complete and the Cowie Well is once again cleared for use.
