Kristen Villebrun and Wendy Bush hoped they wouldn't have to pray for Chedoke Creek, but four years after they first raised alarm about the water's condition, they were part of an Indigenous full moon ceremony to do just that. About 50 people showed up near Princess Point on the dark and frigid Monday evening for the monthly ceremony, which was particularly special as it focused on Chedoke Creek. The body of water that runs into Cootes Paradise had about 24 billion litres of sewage and storm water runoff leak into it due to a gate being left open.
Lawn watering across Metro Vancouver will be limited to once a week when restrictions come into effect May 1, down from twice a week last year. Water use can increase by up to 50 per cent in the summer months according to the regional district, and lawn watering is a major reason why. The Phase 1 restrictions will remain in effect until Oct. 15. "The region-wide watering regulations are an effective way to help us use our drinking water wisely," Metro Vancouver's website reminds residents.
The Pembina Valley Water Co-op is continuing right where it left off in 2021, forging ahead to enhance the quality of water it provides, and ensure its member municipalities continue to have a secure supply of treated potable water going forward. CEO, Greg Archibald, says 2021 was an extremely busy year for the Co-op. Upgrades were completed at the Stephenfield Lake, including an upgrade to the plant for additional capacity in order to supply water to the Town of Carman as a result of the town shutting down it's water treatment plant and putting in a new reservoir.
Officials with the Pembina Valley Water Co-op (PVWC) are cautiously optimistic this winter's snowfall will replenish the region's water supply after the summer drought. Persistently dry and hot conditions this past summer led the PVWC and its 14 member municipalities to declare a State of Drought Emergency due to low water levels on the Red River.. The state of emergency was in effect from July 28th until the end of October.
Persistent dry conditions this summer have led the Pembina Valley Water Co-op (PVWC) and its 14 member municipalities to declare a State of Drought Emergency due to low water levels on the Red River. The declaration, effective Wednesday, July 28th, comes following a meeting a day prior that included Manitoba Agriculture and Resource Development as well as Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization. "From June 25th to July 23rd, a twenty-eight day period, the flow in the Red River was reduced from 1,532 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 752 cfs. So, it's been reduced by half in a month," explains PVWC CEO, Greg Archibald. During this same period, Environment and Climate Change Canada reports the water level on the Red River at Emerson went down 20.5 inches, from 748.287 ft down to 746.578 ft above sea level.
