Effective Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 4:30 p.m. the Town of Antigonish will be initiating a mandatory water conservation order to all Town and fringe area water utility customers, which includes all residential and commercial properties.
Under this order the following activities are banned: watering of lawns, trees, shrubs, flower beds and gardens. Additionally, residents and businesses are asked to not fill pools, wash down walkways, driveways or vehicles.
Within Town, By-Law Enforcement Officers will be enforcing these measures. Anyone found breaking these mandatory rules may be subjected to have having their water service disconnected.
Enforcement of these measures comes from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board and the Rules and Regulations for Water Utility. The Town is required to have conservation measures in place as part of Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change’s Permit to Operate.
Over the last few years, the Town and the Municipality of the County of Antigonish have taken steps to develop a conservation strategy that best utilizes the County’s Wells. The Town has requested that the County Wells be activated as part of these water conservation measures. The Wells are supplemental to the overall system as they decrease a portion of the demand on the Town’s Water Treatment Plant and the James River Dam. The Wells are not large enough to replace the Town and fringe area’s water supply. The Town is closely monitoring our water storage levels as well as the long-range weather forecasts for any possible changes to these measures.
This mandatory conservation order will remain in place until the water levels at the James River Dam return to normal.
The Town and County thank all residents in advance for their cooperation and for using our water resources in a responsible manner.