Repost - (Updated) Forested areas and forested parks access changes by county, provincial burn ban and voluntary & mandatory water conservation in HRM / Fireworks ban

Repost - (Updated) Forested areas and forested parks access changes by county, provincial burn ban and voluntary & mandatory water conservation in HRM / Fireworks ban - **** Halifax Water Release Repost - Mandatory Water Conservation Measures in effect for customers serviced by Lake Major Halifax Water is implementing mandatory Stage 1 water restrictions for the Lake Major effective immediately. This impacts water service for the communities of Dartmouth, Burnside, Cole Harbour, Westphal, North Preston and Eastern Passage (see attached map for affected service areas). This is due to the ongoing dry conditions and lack of precipitation. As a result, Lake Major has moved to the warning phase, which triggers the need for these mandatory Stage 1 restrictions. Customers may use this interactive map to determine if they are serviced by the Lake Major water supply. In order to conserve water, Halifax Water requests that all residents and businesses supplied by the Lake Major Water Supply Plant follow mandatory Stage 1 water conservation measures until further notice. The following activities are prohibited under mandatory Stage 1 conservation: · Watering lawns. · Washing vehicles. · Filling pools. · Watering golf courses. · Bulk Fill Stations serviced by Lake Major will be closed With the move to mandatory, residential and commercial customers are now expected to adhere to these measures. Failure to do so may result in a warning, a non-compliance fine, or suspension of service. These mandatory water conservation measures are being implemented to maintain essential water service for all customers in the Lake Major service area. The goal is to help reduce demand until the rainfall can replenish the lake and remove/delay the need for an engineered pumping solution. Additional mandatory Stage 2 restrictions may be implemented in the future if lake levels are not replenished. Halifax Water is also asking customers serviced by the Lake Major Water Supply to consider the following additional measures to conserve water: · If it’s yellow, let it mellow. Depending on the efficiency of your toilet, each flush uses between 6 to 26 litres of water. · Shorten your showers. Cut back on the frequency and length of showers. · Turn off the tap when you don’t need it. Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, shaving, washing your face etc. Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes. Halifax Water customers serviced by Pockwock Lake remain under voluntary conservation measures. Visit halifaxwater.ca/reducing-your-water-wastewater-use for a full list of ways to conserve water. To learn more and find further resources and a weekly water level update visit Water Conservation in Effect for HRM | Halifax Water For more information on Halifax Water, please check www.halifaxwater.ca, visit us on YouTube, or Twitter @HalifaxWater, Facebook, or call our Customer Care Centre at 902-420-9287. - **** NS Gov Release Repost - Woods Restrictions Lifted Except in Annapolis County --------------------------------------------------------- Restrictions on travel and activities in the woods are lifted in all remaining counties except Annapolis as of 4 p.m. today, September 18. The change applies to Cumberland, Hants, Lunenburg, Kings, Queens, Shelburne, Digby and Yarmouth counties. Restrictions were lifted in the other nine counties previously. The restrictions will remain in place in Annapolis County until October 15 – regarded as the end of wildfire season – or until conditions allow them to be lifted. “We’ve looked at improving conditions and also at the impact these necessary restrictions have had on businesses, which we’ve tried to minimize all along,” said Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton. “We’re at a point where, for both reasons, it’s time to lift these restrictions everywhere except Annapolis County, where crews are continuing to fight the Long Lake wildfire.” The burn ban remains in place for the entire province until October 15 or until conditions improve further. The fine for violating the woods restrictions or burn ban is $25,000. Quick Facts: - decisions on restricting woods access are based on data modelling that measures how much dry, flammable material has built up that could easily start a fire - the woods restrictions were put in place August 5 through a proclamation under the Forests Act; the provincewide ban on open fires started on July 30 - people with questions about the restrictions can call their local Department of Natural Resources office - in counties where the woods restrictions have been lifted, hunting season will proceed as usual - in Annapolis County, hunting in non-wooded, open spaces (such as fields) can go ahead as usual; if getting to the open space requires a short trip down a trail, that is fine Additional Resources: Woods restrictions proclamation updated September 18: https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/woods-proclamation_2025-09-18.pdf News release – Woods Restrictions to be Lifted in Pictou, Colchester Counties: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/09/11/woods-restrictions-be-lifted-pictou-colchester-counties News release – Woods Restrictions Lifted in Some Counties, Remain in Others: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/08/29/woods-restrictions-lifted-some-counties-remain-others News release – Travel, Activities in Woods Restricted to Prevent Wildfires: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/08/05/travel-activities-woods-restricted-prevent-wildfires News release – Provincewide Burn Ban in Effect: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/07/30/provincewide-burn-ban-effect Department of Natural Resources offices: https://novascotia.ca/natr/staffdir/offices_map.asp Natural Resources on X: https://x.com/NS_DNR

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Repost - Residents advised of the lifting of restrictions on access to woods in municipality

The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents that effective 4 p.m. today, Friday, Aug. 29, the Province of Nova Scotia has lifted restrictions on access to woods within the Halifax region as part of a partial lifting of the Aug. 5, 2025 Woods Restrictions Proclamation.

The provincial burn ban remains in place for the entire province until Oct. 15 or until otherwise advised by the Province of Nova Scotia. The municipality is asking residents to continue to exercise caution in wooded areas and to report any signs of fire to 911.

The municipality is in the process of removing barricades and signage at impacted municipal parks, trails and greenspaces, which is expected to take several days.

More information on the lifting of the provincial notice of restricting travel and activities in the woods is available in the Province of Nova Scotia’s news release.

- ****Halifax Water Release Repost - Voluntary Water Conservation Measures Requested for Halifax Regional Municipality Due to the recent prolonged period of low precipitation, water levels within our supply areas have not been replenished. With no significant precipitation forecasted in the coming weeks, these levels will continue to lower. To conserve water, Halifax Water is requesting that all customers and those who live or work within a building serviced by Halifax Water, follow voluntary water conservation measures until further notice. By reducing our water usage, we can help ease the demand on our lakes/source water and reduce or delay the need for mandatory water conservation measures. To confirm if you are impacted, please visit Where Does My Water Come From? These measures include: · If it’s yellow, let it mellow. Depending on the efficiency of your toilet, each flush uses between 6 to 26 litres of water. · Shorten your showers. Cut back on the frequency and length of showers. · Turn off the tap when not in use. Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth, shaving, washing your face etc. · Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes. Limit activities that use excess water, such as: · Watering lawns. · Washing vehicles. · Filling pools. Visit halifaxwater.ca/reducing-your-water-wastewater-use for a full list of ways to conserve water. To learn more and find further resources and a weekly water level update visit Voluntary Water Conservation in Effect for HRM | Halifax Water For more information on Halifax Water, please check www.halifaxwater.ca, visit us on YouTube, or Twitter @HalifaxWater, Facebook, or call our Customer Care Centre at 902-420-9287. - **** NS Gov Release Repost - Fireworks Banned Provincewide --------------------------------------------------------- To protect communities across Nova Scotia and lower the risk of wildfires, the Province has banned the use of all fireworks. As of today, August 6, all fireworks and pyrotechnic special effects are not permitted as long as a burn ban is in effect. There is currently a ban in place until October 15 or until conditions allow it to be lifted. The fine for violating the fireworks ban is $25,000. The new ban applies to consumer and display fireworks and pyrotechnic special effects even if they have the appropriate approvals. Quick Facts: - a provincewide ban on open fires started on July 30 and will remain in place until October 15 or until conditions improve - travel and activities in woods were restricted as of August 5, until October 15, or until conditions improve - people with questions about woods restrictions can call their local Department of Natural Resources office Additional Resources: News release – Provincewide Burn Ban in Effect: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/07/30/provincewide-burn-ban-effect News release – Travel, Activities in Woods Restricted to Prevent Wildfires: