With summer around the corner, Antigonish Town Council is taking short- term and long- term measures to deal with potential water shortages.
Last summer, the town of Antigonish initiated both voluntary and mandatory water restrictions due to low water levels at the James River Dam. Antigonish Town Mayor Sean Cameron said council and staff are taking a balanced approach and encouraging conservation while they build what Cameron called necessary infrastructure needed for future growth. He said last summer highlighted that through conservation measures, the town reduced its water consumption, which really helped the water supply.
Cameron said water is necessary not just for drinking but also fire protection. Looking at the long term, the mayor said they used money from the Housing Accelerator Fund to identify and develop a second source of water in the county , drilling two test wells and completing water quality testing with positive results. They are looking to drill a third test well this spring.
In the short term, Cameron also noted the town’s rain barrel rebate program, where town council allocated $2,500 to offer $50 rebates to those purchasing rain barrels.
