Council Seeking Members for Source Water Protection Committees

The Municipality of Inverness County is forming Source Water Protection Committees for six of its municipal water supply areas and is seeking members of the public to fill 12 vacancies. The appointments shall be for a term of two years.

Source water is untreated water from streams, rivers, lakes, or underground aquifers (groundwater) that is used to supply public drinking water. Source water protection maintains or improves the quality of source water before it reaches a water treatment plant.

The Municipality is looking for two members from each of the following communities with municipal water supplies:

• Chéticamp
• Inverness
• Judique
• Mabou
• Port Hood
• Whycocomagh

Although the municipality provides water services to the Town of Port Hastings, that water supply comes from the Town of Port Hawkesbury.

If you are interested in where your drinking water comes from and in working to protect it for future generations, consider joining your Source Water Protection Committee.

Volunteer Qualifications:

Applicants must be:

• Residents or landowners within the Source Water Protection Areas. Source water protection areas are an area of land where all water drains into a common water body or is absorbed back into the ground. See maps below.

OR

• customers serviced by the municipal water system (if you have a Water Utility Account with the Municipality).

Committee Members Will:

• Serve without pay
• Meet as necessary. But at a minimum once a year. Virtual and in person options will be available.

To apply, submit the following form: Source Water Protection Committee Application Form | Municipality of the County of Inverness

If you have questions, contact the Public Works Department at 1-866-258-0223, option 4 or email publicworks@invernesscounty.ca .

Additional Details:

Why is source water protection imporntant?

Source water protection is a proactive approach to protecting drinking water and public health. Although water is a renewable resource, there are limits to its quality and quantity. The quality of our drinking water sources can be threatened by contaminants introduced by human activity. To protect our source water, we must manage the human activity that creates these threats.

 What is the role of the committee?

The Committee will:

• Conduct business by consensus.
• Review and make recommendations on all activities or policy issues within the Source Water Protection Areas.
• Review and comment on water monitoring programs and other studies related to the Source Water Protection Areas.
• Provide advice on protection options regarding potential sources of contamination and any water concerns of stakeholder grounds.
• Develop water protection information and educational programs in conjunction with the Municipality for local residents, landowners, and users of the Source Water Protection Areas.