Moncton bylaw would allow staff to impose more water-use restrictions

Staff say current bylaw not sufficient to address risk of blue-green algae

Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Aug 24, 2020 3:48 PM AT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Moncton's Tower Road dam, one of two of the city's drinking water reservoirs in the Turtle Creek watershed.

Moncton is preparing to give its city staff the power to impose restrictions on water use without having to seek council approval.

The bylaw amendment was introduced at a special council meeting Monday as part of an effort to stave off a blue-green algae bloom in the water supply for more than 100,000 people.

The wording of the existing development, maintenance and supply of water bylaw is focused on conserving water in the event of a shortage by restricting things like lawn watering and car washing, not measures to affect the quality of the water.

The amendment gives the city manager the power to impose restrictions anytime they think the quality, quantity or efficiency of the municipal water supply is at risk. The exact nature of the restrictions isn't included in the bylaw. 

Marc Landry, Moncton's city manager, would have the power to impose water conservation restrictions without council approval based on the proposed bylaw amendment.

The one-paragraph amendment does not require the restrictions to be approved by city council.

"It just streamlines the process if we're ever dealing with an emergency with our water supply," city manager Marc Landry told Moncton councillors Monday. 

The amendment still needs second and third reading at the Sept. 8 council meeting. 

The city says the water remains safe to use and there's enough water to supply the region until February 2021, but is urging conservation to avoid issues with algae.

Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview all get their drinking water from reservoirs in the Turtle Creek watershed. The water supply system is owned by Moncton.

A blue-green algal bloom was found in one of the new Tower Road reservoir in 2017, which serves as the backup water supply for the main Turtle Creek reservoir.

Testing has found low levels of algae so far this year in both reservoirs. 

Moncton-area residents urged to reduce water use because of blue-green algae risk

Moncton closes most splash pads after water conservation efforts fall short

More water is being held in the Turtle Creek reservoir to keep the water temperature there low to reduce the risk of an algae bloom, which can be toxic. 

The city issued warnings to implement voluntary water use restrictions Aug. 12 that a staff report says led to a six per cent drop in water consumption. 

A second notice Aug. 14 was followed by a 21 per cent drop in consumption. The city also turned off all but one splash pad where the water is recycled.

P.E.I.'s hot, dry summer creating ideal conditions for grapes

'We actually look for hot dry conditions, it's generally what we want'

Travis Kingdon · CBC News · Posted: Aug 24, 2020 6:00 AM AT | Last Updated: August 24

Wineries like to see a hot, dry summer for their grapes to ripen.

The Island has had a lot of hot, dry days and not much rain this summer, and while that's not great news for farmers, those who run wineries in the province say for them, things couldn't be better. 

"We actually look for hot, dry conditions, it's generally what we want," said Mike Newman, president and winemaker at Newman Winery. 

But, that's only one part of the recipe for an ideal growing season. In the winter, growers look for milder temperatures and some snow cover, a lot of rain in the spring to grow the vines as quickly as possible, and then heat through the summer to ripen up the grapes as fast as possible. 

"I would say this year, we're lining up perfect right now," said Newman. "It's the best I've ever seen. I would say this year I'm a bit optimistic, but there's still still a little ways to go.

"We're well ahead of schedule. I would say we're about 10 days ahead of schedule now." 

P.E.I. crops, farmers struggling with dry fields

Yes, it's a hot summer, but there have been hotter

'That's what the vines are looking for'

Jaime Matos, owner of Matos Winery and Distillery in St. Catherines, P.E.I., has also been enjoying the warm weather.

"It's been great. Not a lot of rain, a lot of heat and sun and that's what the vines are looking for," said Matos.

Jaime Matos, owner of Matos Winery and Distillery, says the growing season for grapes this year has been ideal.

If the vines get too much rain, then they will continue to grow leaves, said Newman.  

"So you only need a certain amount of leaves to kind of, to ripen the grapes. So if you keep getting rain what will happen is you'll just get more and more leaves," he said. 

Those long periods of heat allow the grape to ripen quicker, which in a place like P.E.I. where the summer is short, is an important piece of the puzzle, said Matos. 

"We need that nice period of time to get the acid into fructose sugar," he said.

Mike Newman, president and winemaker at Newman Winery, says the winery is ahead of schedule by about 10 days because of the heat.

For Matos the heat is a welcome change, after last year's weather. 

"Lately we haven't been having this luck. You know, the summer is still short," he said. 

"Last year it was not one of the greatest years. If you ask me, it was one of the worst years," he said. 

Hopeful for a strong harvest

Both Matos and Newman said that over the next couple of weeks, they're hoping no big storms come through, and that the weather stays in their favour. If another storm like Dorian hits, the crop could suffer. 

But while it might be early to know for certain, Newman said it looks like his harvest this year will be a good one.

"It's a big harvest. Kind of walking through the rows. It's exciting but it's also, you know, it's also going to be a lot of work," he said. 

"And then on top of that, you're going to want to pick pretty much everything.  If the quality is up there, you want to make sure that you're getting every bit of wine."

Fire under control in Irishtown Nature Park, New Brunswick, says fire chief

Most of the park remains closed, three trails open

CBC News · Posted: Aug 24, 2020 12:31 PM AT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

Moncton fire Chief Conrad Landry said the fire in Irishtown Nature Park is under control.

Fire Chief Conrad Landry of Moncton says two or three days of strong rain are needed to help alleviate dry conditions across New Brunswick.  

Most of the province is under a no burn order.

A number of factors go into determining whether there will be a fire ban in place, he said. With little rain and little green grass or foliage, the number of calls for fires has gone up.

Two fires that were out of control have now been contained. One is on along Highway 2 in the Coles Island area near Grand Lake, covering about five hectares.  

The other is in the Irishtown Nature Park, in Moncton, which was brought under control Sunday night. Landry said crews would be back at the site Monday to look for hot spots in tree roots.   

Despite heat and humidity, New Brunswick has far fewer lightning strikes than normal

Crews contain 2 forest fires in Miramichi region over the weekend

Water bombers were called in to help douse the fire, which began around 5 p.m.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but Landry said sometimes it's hard to determine how the fire started.

"It's normally human error, so either someone did a fire or didn't dispose of smoking materials, but we have no idea at this point." 

Most of Irishtown Nature Park will remain closed as fire crews douse hot spots from a forest fire that burned half a hectare. 

In a post on Facebook, the city said most of the park will remain closed but three trails are open. They are: Ogilvie, Bunny Hop, and Spillway trails. 

"Signage has been installed at the park advising residents of closures due to both the fire and construction already underway," the city said.

Landry said hot weather in June made things abnormally busy for the Moncton Fire Department as crews responded to grass fires and fires in fire pits. 

"July wasn't too bad, it was kind of normal year, but in my opinion we still responded to too many. When there's a fire ban in the province, people should be extra careful."

Fire ban lifted earlier this week, despite no rain in some places

Landry said it might be normal to respond to two or three calls a day about people not following the ban or someone burning in a fire pit that's not up to code, but these incidents shouldn't be happening. 

Most municipalities in the province have a bylaw in place for fires. The fire chief said some follow the provincial fire ban but some don't. 

"It's up to people be aware of the bylaw or the ban," Landry said.