No major capacity loss expected to Sydney water supply after well failure

Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) is facing a water supply challenge as one of the 11 wells that provide water to Sydney needs to be replaced due to a sudden loss of working capacity in the pump. Ray Boudreau, the director of water and wastewater for CBRM, explained that the older pump overheated when sediment blocked the water supply to the well.

According to Boudreau, the failure of a well is not uncommon, but the rapid deterioration of this particular pump was unexpected. He mentioned that typically there are signs of a loss of capacity over time, but in this case, the decline occurred more quickly than usual. The loss of one well is straining the entire water system during peak usage, posing a potential problem in case of an emergency. However, plans are underway to promptly dig a new well to address the issue.

Boudreau assured that despite the current strain on the system, the risk of a significant capacity loss is low due to the presence of multiple wells in the area. He highlighted that two of the other wells are newer and all wells are regularly inspected, with no signs of trouble detected in the remaining wells. The necessary funds of $265,000 are available for the construction of a new well, pending approval from the provincial Department of Environment and the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

If the proposed plan is approved, a new well could be operational by the end of March. All wells draw water from the same underground aquifer, with studies indicating an abundance of water available beyond CBRM’s current usage levels. During a recent committee meeting, CBRM council swiftly authorized the replacement of the well, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures to avoid any potential water resource limitations for residents.

Mayor Cecil Clarke emphasized the significance of maintaining the system’s capacity, especially as discussions are ongoing with the province and Cape Breton University to extend water lines to CBU and the nearby Tanglewood residential subdivision. By proactively addressing the well replacement, CBRM aims to ensure a reliable water supply for its residents and future development projects in the region.