Advisory for CHESTER, Nova Scotia

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CHESTER

Type: Severe Shortage  -  Active

Issued: 9/9/2024

Details:

Municipality of Chester - To help residents combat the lack of water, officials started a Water Distribution Program about eight years ago. The Program provides households experiencing a Potable Water Shortage with 4L of water per day, per person, per household up to four people. Its coupon-based and available to all Municipal Residents, who must submit a Dry Well Report form to be eligible. The Dry Well Reporting was implemented as a means of geographically tracking Water Shortages in an attempt to identify trends.

This year The Water Distribution Program went into effect September 9 and is anticipated to run until at least December 15. The Program wasnt needed last year due to excessive rainfall. The record was held in 2020, when 276 wells were reported dry. This year, 294 wells have been reported dry thus far in the Municipality.

Potable water supply has been a long-time issue for many rural Nova Scotian Communities. Theres not enough water in the ground, they rely heavily on precipitation to replenish their supply source.
Residents, in the past have raised the issue and voiced their concerns to their Municipality to intervene by establishing a water supply, to no avail. All to often no action/resolution comes from these meetings typically due to the anticipated high cost of new infrastructure and lack of public interest/support. 

The fact remains that a lack of fresh water limits activities, increases the cost of doing business and is absolutely essential for the growth and well-being of a Community.