Drinking Water

A closeup of a tap and the top of a full glass of water.

Plan needed for long-term water viability, Queens councillors say

December 3, 2024 by Rick Conrad

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 early November 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. Another update is planned for Wednesday.

A half-full glass of water sits on a wooden table

Region of Queens raises water warnings as levels drop

November 25, 2024 by Rick Conrad

The Region of Queens is asking its municipal water users to cut their consumption in half.

The municipality first sounded the alarm on November 1st 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.

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. This week, it released its starkest advisory yet, asking users to cut their consumption by 50 per cent.

The area has received only about 45 millimetres of rain since the first of October. Municipal officials say the area needs at least 50 mm of rain a week to raise water levels.

A graphic illustrates rising housing costs with stacks of coins growing in size leading up to illustration of a house

Township asking governments to look at funding models for smaller municipalities

April 26, 2024 by Ted Evans

Loyalist Township is calling on the federal government to re-evaluate funding for municipalities with a population less than 50,000 in rural Ontario. The township is hoping the government can make funding available for infrastructure programs to help build new homes.

According to staff’s report, Loyalist is in need of $4,375,000 in funding to complete upgrades at the Amherstview water pollution control plant this year. These upgrades are critical in the ongoing development of new homes.

The township is also asking the province to prioritize funding from the $825 million Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund to municipalities that are not eligible for funding under the Building Faster Fund.

Staff noted the township cannot afford to increase water or sewer rates to fund the needed infrastructure. Debt to build the project will increase costs to these rates, or result in increased costs to developers.

Glass of water shown next to water filters on a white table.

Loyalist Township supports examination of water affordability

April 11, 2024 by Ted Evans

At their meeting this week, Loyalist Township council decided to support the County of Renfrew’s request to examine the affordability of water and wastewater rates.

The County of Renfrew passed a resolution in January on the subject. It has been circulated to all municipalities in Ontario and is gaining support. According to the report, the typical geography of rural Ontario makes it so that many smaller municipalities are responsible for operating, upgrading, and maintaining several treatment facilities.

The examination will determine if the unaffordability of operational costs for water and wastewater systems is systemic provincially and nationally. Renfrew has put the request forth to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Rural Ontario Municipalities Association, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

If the unaffordability is determined to be systemic, the resolution calls for provincial and federal governments to fund an assistance program for smaller municipalities with financial oversight of the water systems.

Plan needed for long-term water viability, Queens councillors say

Region of Queens raises water warnings as levels drop

Township asking governments to look at funding models for smaller municipalities

Loyalist Township supports examination of water affordability

Some rights reserved © 2024 - frequencynews.ca

Developed and hosted by Natiotech