**** Via HRM
Repost - Update on water conservation and support during dry conditions – August 13
The Halifax Regional Municipality is experiencing extremely dry conditions due to a prolonged period without significant rainfall. This has led to lower-than-normal surface water levels and reduced groundwater supplies across the municipality. Many residents with private wells are reporting shortages or completely dry systems. Prolonged drought can also strain municipal water supplies, making conservation efforts critical for all.
Voluntary water conservation
As of August 5, Halifax Water is asking all residents to take immediate voluntary steps to reduce water use. This helps protect our shared supply and may delay the need for mandatory restrictions.
Learn more about conservation tips from Halifax Water’s website.Drinking water available to residents with dry wells
The Halifax Regional Municipality, in partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia, Ground Search & Rescue and Joint Emergency Management volunteer teams, is making emergency drinking water available for free to residents experiencing dry well conditions.
Beginning today through September 10, residents can collect:
Four litres per person per day
Up to one week’s supply per household at a time
Additional water is available for pets, based on their weight.
Water will be available on Wednesdays, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the following locations:
Station 39 – 14 Highway 336, Upper Musquodoboit
Station 48 – 1581 Beaverbank Road, Beaverbank
Station 50 – 2050 Hammonds Plains Road, Hammonds Plains
Station 56 – 8579 St Margarets Bay Road, Black Point
Water is also available at the Sheet Harbour Ground Search & Rescue facility at 44 Behie Road on Wednesdays, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
These services will be assessed on a weekly basis. Any changes will be communicated through public service announcements, website updates and social media.
Showers available to residents with dry wells
Beginning today, residents with dry wells can shower at the following municipal recreation facilities:
Canada Games Centre | 26 Thomas Raddall Drive
6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Prospect Road Community Centre | 2141 Prospect Road
9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cole Harbour Place | 51 Forest Hills Parkway
Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 to 9 p.m.
Weekends: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Residents are asked to check in at the front desk. A membership is not required to access the showers. Please check our website to verify the hours of operation for each facility. Those 17 and under should be accompanied by an adult.
Restrictions to municipal park spaces
Due to the Fire Proclamation – Travel Ban issued by the Province of Nova Scotia, restrictions are in place for wooded areas in municipal parks until October 15 (unless lifted earlier).
Fully wooded parks are closed, while parks with a mix of wooded and non-wooded areas have only the non-wooded areas open. Residents are reminded these restrictions will be enforced, with fines up to $25,000 for violations. For more information, visit our website.
For more information about water support and conservation, visit our website.
**** HRM Media Release
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. -**** Via NS Gov
Provincewide Burn Ban Lifted Except in Annapolis County ------------------------------------------------------- With conditions improving, the ban on open fires is lifted in all counties except Annapolis, as of 8 p.m. today, September 26.
The ban will remain in place in Annapolis County until the end of wildfire season due to the ongoing Long Lake wildfire.
“It’s been a very challenging wildfire season and I thank all Nova Scotians for co-operating with the prevention measures we put in place,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources. “For most of the province, the daily burn restrictions will resume until the end of the season and it’s still very important that everyone follow them to keep our people and our communities safe.”
The daily burn restrictions – and the continued ban in Annapolis County – apply to open fires such as campfires, bonfires, brush fires, fires in chimeneas and any other fire that is not enclosed and uses wood as the fuel. Unlike gas or charcoal fires, sparks could escape from an open wood fire and cause a wildfire.
The restrictions do not apply to non-woodburning devices like charcoal and gas barbeques and gas stoves, which can be used following manufacturer’s instructions.
Quick Facts: - the provincewide ban was put in place through a proclamation under the Forests Act on July 30; the proclamation was revised for Annapolis County today, September 26 - the Province’s BurnSafe map, which lets people know where and when burning is permitted, will remain red for Annapolis County while the proclamation is in effect, meaning open fires are not allowed - for all other counties, the map will be red from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. because burning is never permitted during those hours; the daily restrictions will be posted at 2 p.m. to show what is and is not allowed for the rest of the day - the usual end of wildfire season is October 15
Additional Resources: Burn ban proclamation: https://novascotia.ca/natr/forestprotection/wildfire/fire-proclamation_2025-09-26.pdf
Information on fire restrictions and the BurnSafe map: https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe/
Forests Act:
