ST. MARY’S — The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s has scrapped its proof requirements for bottled water distribution, bringing its drought relief program in line with the neighbouring Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG).
Earlier this month, The Journal reported that St. Mary’s had asked that residents provide evidence – such as photos of dry wells or professional reports – before receiving bottled water under the province’s supply and reimbursement program. MODG, by contrast, handed out vouchers without demanding proof.
That story highlighted confusion among some local citizens about whether the province imposed such requirements. MODG Warden Paul Long said his municipality followed provincial guidelines but made its distribution decisions. St. Mary’s Warden James Fuller pointed instead to provincial “guidance” that wells should be verified.
The Department of Emergency Management (DEM) did not respond before press time last week. But after the story ran on Aug. 20, DEM spokesperson Patricia Jreige confirmed in a statement that the department had not issued a directive. She said DEM had produced a “guidance document” only after St. Mary’s asked how to start a program. “This was … simply … to provide ideas to a St. Mary’s staff member as to how they may want to build accountability into their water distribution program,” she wrote.
Jreige added that municipalities choose whether to launch water programs. Those that want provincial reimbursement must follow provincial guidelines, which use Red Cross standards: four litres per person per day, up to a maximum of 16 litres per household, regardless of family size.
In a telephone interview with The Journal on Aug. 20, Fuller confirmed that a meeting with DEM and municipal emergency coordinators on either Aug. 16 or 17 cleared up the issue. He said he decided then to “remove all barriers” to bottled water distribution in St. Mary’s, even though the old proof requirements still appeared on the municipality’s website and social media. Later that day, he posted the following statement to Facebook:
“It was, and is, a provincial requirement that all distributed water must be tracked and accounted for. This is true in both methods of distribution either by voucher or in person. The initial guidelines provided by [DEM] staff could have been interpreted as overbearing in some cases, but since then the standards have been adjusted. No one needs to lift a well lid or take photos as first suggested. However, due to tracking standards set by [DEM] we do need to keep count of how much water is distributed and to whom. Your word that the well is dry is enough.
“This is a new and evolving program and, as with any new process, when details need to be worked out on the fly there can be some confusion. Were mistakes made? Maybe. Are we trying hard to adjust and make this resource available? Absolutely.
“St. Mary’s remains committed to the health and safety of all our residents and will continue to do so in the future.”
The municipality’s shift reflects a wider response to drought across Nova Scotia. Other municipalities have also launched bottled water programs. In Lunenburg, for example, residents began collecting four litres per person per day earlier this month through a coupon system redeemable at local retailers.
Rain may bring some relief. Still, after weeks of record-dry weather, officials warn it will take far more than a few wet days to restore wells and replenish surface water supplies. And St. Mary’s may not be out of the woods yet.
A notice posted on the municipality’s website last week warned: “Our supply of potable water for distribution is currently running low ... To avoid unnecessary travel or disappointment, please call the Municipal Office at 902-522-2049 before coming to pick up water, to ensure availability. We appreciate the community’s cooperation and understanding as we work to maintain access to safe drinking water.”
