Mandatory water conservation restrictions issued for part of Cumberland County

A lawn sprinkler is pictured in this undated image. (File image)

A prolonged period of hot, dry weather has prompted mandatory water conservation restrictions to be issued in part of Nova Scotia’s Cumberland County.

On Saturday, the Municipality of Cumberland said the Cumberland County Water Utility is instituting mandatory measures for all residents supplied by the Springhill Water System until further notice.

Voluntary water restrictions had been implemented on Aug. 8 for all three water systems in the municipality: Parrsboro, Pugwash and Springhill. However, it said the water levels in Leamington Brook, which supplies the Springhill system, have continued to decline and “water consumption by the community of Springhill has not decreased.”

With no significant rainfall in the long-term weather forecast, the utility has put the mandatory measures in place for all residents and businesses on the Springhill system. The measures include:

• no lawn, garden, plant watering or other outside water usage
• no car/RV or other vehicle washing at home

Commercial car washes remain available for the time being.

“While these directives are in force, customers who do not comply with the directives may have their water service suspended until such time as they agree to comply with the directive or upon suspension of the water conservation directive, whichever occurs first,” said a news release Saturday.

The municipality noted there are other measures residents can take to help conserve water, including:

• repair leaking plumbing fixtures
• take shorter showers
• install low flow shower heads and appliances
• wash only full loads of laundry and dishes
• turn off the water while brushing teeth

“These water restrictions are being implemented to maintain essential water service for all Springhill customers and protect the Leamington Brook watershed. Conserving water will help avoid a potentially serious situation involving boil water orders or future water outages,” said the news release.

The municipality said the water systems in Parrsboro and Pugwash are supplied by groundwater sources, which is why mandatory restrictions are not in effect there. However, the utility is asking residents to continue to voluntarily conserve water to “help preserve these resources during this unusually dry summer.”

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