The Region of Queens has lifted voluntary water conservation measures for residents in Liverpool and parts of Brooklyn. (0xCoffe via Pixabay)
Municipal water customers in Liverpool and Brooklyn don’t have to worry about tightening their taps.
The Region of Queens announced Wednesday afternoon that it has lifted voluntary water conservation measures that residents and businesses were under since early November.
The region said in a news release that recent rainfall has restored the Town Lake Reservoir to appropriate levels.
The reservoir is still not at full capacity, the region says, but there is enough water so that people don’t have to worry about watching their consumption.
Earlier in the day, Mayor Scott Christian told QCCR that the region has been working with officials in the provincial Emergency Management Office to look for ways to replenish the reservoir if needed.
“There are alternatives and secondary water sources that we could access water from if push came to shove, but they’re not potable.”
Christian says using those sources would only be a last resort if they needed to feed the system.
But people who rely on the region’s water utility don’t have to worry about that for now.
If water levels drop again, the region says it will notify users through ads on local radio stations, including QCCR, posts on the region’s Facebook and Twitter accounts and on its website.
Queens regional councillors are looking for ways to help prevent more water crises in the region. (Henryk Niestroj via Pixabay)
While residents and businesses in the Liverpool area are being asked to cut back on water, Region of Queens councillors want to find ways to improve communication and deal with any future water shortages.
Last week, councillors asked for a comprehensive staff report on the region’s water and wastewater systems. They also want staff to develop a communication system to inform customers quickly when problems arise.
Municipal water users in Liverpool and parts of Brooklyn have been asked since Nov. 1 to restrict their water usage.
Water levels in the Town Lake Reservoir are too low to support the town’s usual consumption.
The region has warned people that without significant amounts of rain, more drastic measures may have to be taken.
Mayor Scott Christian said it’s important to investigate longer-term solutions.
“It has appropriately alarmed a lot of our residents and a number of members of council as well,” Christian said.
“So I think it’s appropriate that we ask those questions in terms of how are we going to avoid situations like this in the future. What’s our Plan B? How can we make sure that we do all we can to protect against known or foreseeable risks to the stability or the dependence of our water supply?”
Other councillors said they were also worried how the water supply could be affected if the Liverpool Fire Department needs to respond to a fire.
Liverpool fire chief Trevor Munroe could not be reached for comment Monday.
District 3 Coun. Courtney Wentzell said the region needs to address problems with its existing infrastructure.
“I think we’ve got an infrastructure problem on the west side of Liverpool from the town well to Union Street. This is very, very serious. We need to know what Plan B is, we need to look ahead and we need to look after people that already hooked up before we start hooking up new.”
The region has been criticized in the past for its efforts at spreading the word about water problems.
But some businesses and residents complained that they didn’t know about it until days after the order was issued.
People were also upset at what they saw as a lack of transparency about the reasons for the order.
Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton said residents and businesses need to be informed more quickly and more directly.
“I’m also running into a lot of residents who are unaware that they’re supposed to decrease their water usage right now, so I think that this is critical that this happen so that residents can be alerted when needed in a very quick manner.”
CAO Cody Joudry could not give councillors a timeline for when staff will complete their report.
Organizers say Liverpool water conservation measures could add unexpected costs to the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials Dec. 30 to Jan. 4 at Queens Place Emera Centre. (Pixabay)
Water conservation measures in Liverpool may affect the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials being held in the area at the end of the year.
The Region of Queens has been asking municipal water users to cut their consumption in half. Because of a lack of fall rainfall, water levels in the Town Lake Reservoir are uncharacteristically low.
Greg Thorbourne, chairman of the Liverpool Championship Host Society, said this week that if the area doesn’t get substantial amounts of rain soon, the group may have to truck in water to replace what they’ll use during the event.
“Everybody’s being asked to use 50 per cent less and they expect us to use 50 per cent less and/or replace the water we use. So we’re trying to implement plans now to make that happen.
“That’s going to be a big cost if we have to go that route. We’re doing everything we can, praying for rain, fingers crossed and toes crossed that it doesn’t happen. But if it does, we have to be ready for it and buy water from somewhere.”
The area got about 45 millimetres of rain on Thursday, according to Environment Canada. It’s unclear if that’s enough to help. Nobody from the region was available for an interview this week.
Even though the trials are being held at the municipally owned Queens Place, Thorbourne said the host society may have to truck in water from an approved source to replenish the reservoir.
Seven teams have qualified already for the event. Up to 16 teams are expected to compete in Liverpool for the chance to represent Canada in mixed doubles curling at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
It appeared earlier in the week that the event may have received an unexpected financial boost.
The J&W Murphy Foundation donated almost $149,927 to the Region of Queens. The foundation suggested the money be used to enhance curling infrastructure, programs and services in Liverpool.
Mersey Seafoods is owned by the Murphy family. But it is a separate entity from the foundation.
At their meeting on Monday, councillors voted to give $112,427 to the Liverpool Curling Club and $37,500 to the host society.
Thorbourne said the funding from the foundation via the region was money they had expected.
The foundation’s Lisa Murphy told QCCR that it can donate only to registered charities and other qualified organizations. The region is one of them.
“So we expressed a preference and that’s all we did and then after that, we step back,” she said. “As the donor, we can’t insist on it and we can’t get a refund if they don’t do it. The separation has to be there. It has to be entirely in the control of the region.”
There was some confusion at the council meeting on Monday about the Murphy Foundation donation.
Coun. Courtney Wentzell asked whether it was the foundation’s wish that the money go to both groups.
“So it’s not a coincidence that it’s the exact same money to a tee that Murphys gave us and the curling club wants,” he said.
CAO Cody Joudry said it’s up to the region to decide how the money is spent.
“I don’t think there’s any reason to hold onto any of it,” Joudry said.
Thorbourne said any donations are appreciated as the event draws closer.
“We’re just looking for support where we can get it,” he said.
“It’s a major event when you stop and think that the winner from here goes directly to the Olympics. For a small community like Liverpool, just to be involved in something of this magnitude, the community should be proud of putting it on.
“Anything you can do to help us out business-wise, if you can’t afford to put up dollars and cents, maybe they can donate some food for the volunteers. There’s all kinds of different ways you can help.”
About 100 volunteers have already signed up to help. Thorbourne said that if businesses or individuals want to contribute, they can contact him, Lorna MacPherson, Melissa Robinson, Ralph Gidney or Kim Whalen. They can also get in touch through the organizers’ Facebook page.
Full event packages and single tickets are available from Queens Place Emera Centre or through Ticketpro.
The Region of Queens released this graphic on Friday morning to illustrate water levels in the Town Lake Reservoir (Credit: Region of Queens Municipality)
UPDATED Nov. 22 at 10:15 a.m.
The Region of Queens is asking its municipal water users to cut their consumption in half.
The municipality first sounded the alarm on Nov. 1 about dropping water levels in the Town Lake Reservoir.
Since then, the situation has only worsened. Officials say people have not reduced their water use enough to deal with the lack of rainfall.
The area has received only about 45 millimetres of rain since the first of October. CAO Cody Joudry told QCCR last week that the region would need at least 50 mm of rain a week to improve things.
For the past few weeks, the region has appealed to the 1,400 residential and commercial water utility customers in Liverpool and Brooklyn to conserve water.
Mayor Scott Christian told QCCR on Thursday that the newest advisory was necessary because water levels continue to drop.
“We’ve just continued on the same trajectory towards a situation we don’t want to find ourselves in. The updated (communications) strategy is around giving people a target to work toward to manage their own consumption or water conservation efforts.”
The region released more information on Friday morning, explaining the current water levels in more detail, including a graphic to illustrate.
“At full capacity, the Town Lake Reservoir has a maximum depth of nine feet above the water intake pipe,” according to the release. “Currently, the water level stands at six feet. If levels reach five feet, it triggers the Warning Level, where reduced water pressure could impact the entire system. While the system is operating at lower pressure, it remains functional.”
Some people who commented on the region’s latest post on Facebook said they’re frustrated with the region’s efforts to put the word out.
Christian said he understands people’s discontent. He said council plans to discuss the region’s long-term water plans and better communication with residents at their meeting on Monday evening.
“I think those are all good and fair questions to be asking right now. … It’s something that members of the council definitely take seriously. The things that we need to right now right now, is we need to conserve water right now.”
People also wondered why the municipality is flushing some fire hydrants in certain areas. Christian said he appreciates people pointing that out, but said they need to do that to avoid contaminating the water supply. Still, he said officials will look at ways to limit the flow of water from those hydrants.
The region also responded on Friday morning to concerns about the hydrant flushing.
“These ‘flusher locations’ are essential to maintain water quality throughout the system,” the release said. “The municipality has reduced flushing rates from 40 to under 5 gallons per minute to conserve water while ensuring safe potable water distribution.”
Christian told QCCR on Thursday that the best thing to do is for all users to cut their consumption as much as possible.
“But what’s most important urgently right now is to try our best as a community to conserve water as much as possible.”
Municipal water users have dealt with frustration before. Controversy over an eight-week boil water order in the summer of 2023 forced the Queens water utility to give customers a one-time break on their bills.
Other water utilities across the province are also struggling with dwindling water supply. The Halifax region issued water conservation notices last week.
The Region of Queens is asking people to take shorter showers and take baths less often. Flush toilets only when necessary, reduce the number of times you do laundry or dishes, fix leaky pipes and report any suspected leaks in water lines to the municipality at 902-354-7170.
