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.
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.
