Water conservation notice issued again in Alma this weekend

Residents of Alma, N.B., are being asked to conserve water again this weekend to avoid further issues with the community's reservoir.

It's the second water conservation notice issued for the village in recent weeks, though a project to fix water supply issues in the area is in the works.

"The tourism season, while it's not yet fully ramped up, is starting to get busier. And with more activity in the community of Alma, we're seeing increased water consumption," said Bob Rochon, Mayor of the Municipality of Fundy-Albert, in an interview with CBC's Shift.

The reservoir has more water going out than it has coming in, Rochon said. If levels drop too low, the reservoir becomes cloudy and a boil water alert is issued.

Rochon said the last request to conserve worked well and averted problems, and he's hopeful this time around will be just as successful.

"We really don't want to go there, so we're hoping with the public's cooperation, we can get over the weekend."

Next Monday, the village is beginning to hook up to a temporary water supply from neighbouring Fundy National Park. Rochon said that should be operational by Friday.

Fundy-Albert Mayor Bob Rochon said he's hopefully the advisory will help preserve water over the weekend before a temporary hookup to Fundy National Park's supply happens next week. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

Water supply issues have plagued the village for years, simply because the reservoir isn't big enough to meet the needs of the tourism traffic that comes in the summer.

According to the 2021 census, Alma is home to about 300 year-round residents, but the community sees upward of 5,000 visitors per day during the summer. It's along Route 114, a popular road for tourists because it travels through the national park and to the Hopewell Rocks.

At a municipal meeting in early April, citizens learned about a $12-million project for a new well and pump system that will be complete in 2026.

But in the meantime, water issues continue. Rochon said requests to conserve water have become common in recent years, and said last summer was a crisis situation in terms of water shortages.

Last month, Alma residents learned about plans to upgrade the water system with a new well and pump by 2026. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

"Last year we were on a boil water advisory for the entire summer, and that was really difficult on homeowners and business owners alike," he said, adding some businesses spent as much as $5,000 on potable water last summer.

He said the output of the well and the size of the reservoir can't change, so that leaves the village with only one option while awaiting a fix.

"The only thing we can control as a community is the amount of water we consume."