Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) councillors are in disagreement regarding the use of rural fire department equipment and municipally treated water to fill private swimming pools, sparking debate on conservation, legal responsibilities, and fairness post last year’s drought. Concerns have arisen as some rural departments are obtaining water from CBRM’s bulk filling station or hydrants to fill pools, violating provincial water utility regulations, as highlighted by the director of water and wastewater, Ray Boudreau.
The issue lies in the uncontrolled access to the distribution system, diverting from the user-pay principle set by regulations. While some rural councillors advocate for volunteer fire departments to continue providing this service, others stress the need for cost recovery to align with regulations. Coun. Gordon MacDonald supports the current practice, emphasizing the minimal impact on CBRM’s expenses and the essential service provided to rural communities.
On the contrary, some city councillors argue that the practice is unfair to water utility customers who bear the cost, prompting discussions on implementing a nominal fee to cover the utility’s expenses. Deputy Mayor Glenn Paruch empathizes with rural departments but calls for a cost-neutral approach, suggesting a service fee to ensure fair compensation for municipal water usage in pool filling services.
Legal liability concerns have also been raised, with CAO Demetri Kachafanas mentioning potential contamination risks from raw water sources. Mayor Cecil Clarke underlines the necessity for a balanced solution accommodating both residents and volunteers, proposing a waiver to address liability issues and urging a fee for municipal water usage to comply with regulations.
To address the ongoing debate, CBRM is planning to work with the water utility and volunteer fire departments to develop policy recommendations and a potential fee structure for using municipal water in pool filling operations. The aim is to establish a fair and regulated system that considers the needs of all stakeholders involved in the process.