Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) councillors are currently in disagreement based on their geographic locations regarding the practice of rural fire departments utilizing their equipment, along with municipally treated water, to fill private swimming pools. This long-standing tradition has come under scrutiny due to concerns about conservation, legal responsibility, and equity following last year’s drought.
According to officials, some rural fire departments are obtaining water from CBRM’s bulk filling station, while others are filling their trucks from hydrants to fill pools. The director of water and wastewater informed the council that this activity violates provincial regulations governing the water utility, emphasizing the need for a controlled approach to manage such access.
On one side, certain rural councillors argue that volunteer fire departments should be permitted to assist in filling residents’ pools. They mention that in some instances, firefighters draw water from brooks or streams using dry hydrants, incurring no expenses for CBRM. Additionally, volunteers can generate essential funds by charging homeowners for this service, as highlighted by Coun. Gordon MacDonald in his support for continuing this practice.
Conversely, City councillors express concerns that this practice is unfair to water utility customers who are essentially bearing the costs for those filling pools in rural areas. Deputy Mayor Glenn Paruch acknowledges the dilemma faced by rural colleagues but suggests that a fee for the service should be in place to ensure fairness.
Moreover, legal liability issues have been raised by Coun. Eldon MacDonald, questioning the potential contamination risks associated with raw water sources. Chief administrative officer Demetri Kachafanas, addressing these concerns, mentions the possibility of a simple waiver to address liability worries and suggests implementing a fee for municipal water usage to comply with regulations.
In response to the ongoing debate, Mayor Cecil Clarke stresses the need for a comprehensive plan that considers all stakeholders and ensures fairness amid the changing water supply dynamics. The council has directed CBRM staff to collaborate with the water utility and volunteer fire departments to devise policy recommendations and a potential fee structure for using municipal water to fill pools.