Moncton City Council has given the first reading of a by-law amendment relating to the Development, Maintenance and Supply of Water.
The change gives the city manager authority to impose water consumption restrictions and protect customers from a serious risk to the tri-community’s drinking water supply.
The lack of snow and rain this year have affected water levels at the Tower Road reservoir, which flows into Turtle Creek, increasing the risk of blue-green algae.
An higher volume of water in the reservoir helps keep it as cool as possible and keeps algae, and nutrients it feed off of, as dilute as possible.
“Previously, the by-law required a resolution of Council to declare a water shortage and therefore impose consumption restrictions,” explains Bruce Tait, General Manager of Operations for the City of Moncton. “With this amendment, we now have the flexibility to deal with new or unknown issues, such as the risk of a toxic blue-green algae bloom in one of our reservoirs, as is currently highly probable.”
On August 12, the City issued a request to all customers to voluntarily reduce their water consumption to necessary activities only, in an effort to protect the water supply.
As of Sunday, overall consumption had dropped by approximately 21% or about 12 million of litres per day.
The city says the water is currently safe to consume but they are continuing to monitor the situation.
Second and third readings will take place during the regular public session scheduled on September 8th.
