Residents from the communities of Birch Grove, Port Morien, Donkin and Glace Bay are invited to a source water protection planning meeting Wednesday, April 30th at the Birch Grove Volunteer Fire Department from 6:30-8:30 pm. Topics to be discussed include updates from the Source Water Protection Planning (SWPP) Committee and the cancellation of Sand Lake as a protected water supply area.
In 2003 Sand Lake ceased to be the Glace Bay water supply when a new plant started operating in Tower Road, supplied by the former Atomic Energy MacAskill Brook Dam Reservoir. As Sand Lake is no longer the public water supply, the protected designation is not required. To cancel this designation, NS Environment requires that public consultation take place to ensure people affected are given an opportunity to express any concerns they might have. Speakers from the CBRM Water Utility, ACAP Cape Breton and NS Environment will be also be presenting on the role of the SWPP committee, the importance of source water protection and the process of decommissioning a protected water supply area.
CBRM Watershed Coordinator, Britt Roscoe, states, “This meeting will provide residents an opportunity to hear about the work that the Source Water Protection Planning Committee has done to date and also talk openly about what it means for Sand Lake to no longer be recognized as a protected water supply area”. Roscoe adds, “Residents will have the chance to give input on the role they see their communities playing in the future of the Sand Lake.”
If residents are unable to attend the public, they are invited to submit written submissions by email to blroscoe@cbrm.ns.ca. For further information on the meeting please phone Britt Roscoe at (902) 563-5551.
