News

Fisheries Act Violation Details

Details
Published: Tuesday, 20 February 2024 15:31

Message from Mayor, Council & Chief Administrative Officer


Dear Residents,

In December 2023, the Town of Trenton pled guilty to an offence under the federal government’s Fisheries Act. The Town was sentenced on February 15, 2024.

The plea is connected to the Town’s lack of action to address a blocked sewer pipe, discovered in the fall of 2017, which caused the backup of untreated sewage into the Park Road manhole, which then over-flowed through an outfall pipe before discharging into the discharge path leading to Lowden Brook.

The situation was not addressed until January 2020, following a citizen complaint to the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECCC). In response to the results of testing, which indicated the untreated sewage effluent flowing through the pipe constituted a “deleterious substance,” and therefore, a violation of the Fisheries Act, the Town took immediate action, replacing 200 feet of sewage pipe over the course of two days.

There was no indication of environmental harm to the impacted fish habitat as a result of the deposit of the untreated sewage effluent into the Lowden Brook and East River.

While the issue was addressed in January 2020, this matter has just recently been heard by the court. The Town pled guilty to the violation. We have been working with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and will fully comply with the terms of our court order. We are focused on meeting the requirements of the order, which includes training, public notification requirements, and testing and reporting requirements.

The Town has three years to pay the fine of $100,000 and at this time it is not expected to have an impact on residents’ taxes, programs, or services.

We acknowledge, and regret, that the appropriate steps were not taken to address this issue at the time it was discovered. We are committed to making sure this does not happen again, through further work on our wastewater and storm water systems. We will provide regular updates on the status of these projects.

Respectfully,

Mayor, Council and CAO

 

Information will be posted here as it becomes available:

 

Reporting Public Works Emergencies

To report Public Works Emergencies (including but not limited to emergencies related to wastewater and storm water systems, water line breaks, leaking water meters, etc.), please contact:

Public Works Superintendent, Darryl Marcott
Available for calls during daytime office hours & for afterhours emergencies.
Tel: 902-752-6907

Town Administration Office
Available for calls Monday to Friday (excluding holidays) - 8:30am to 4:30pm
Tel: 902-752-5311

Trenton Water Utility Water Rate Increase

Details
Published: Thursday, 06 April 2023 09:03

TOWN OF TRENTON PUBLIC NOTICE
Trenton Water Utility Water Rate Increases


The Town of Trenton, on behalf of its Water Utility, applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board for approval to amend its Schedule of Rates and Charges for Water and Water Services and its Schedule of Rules and Regulations. After due public notice, a hearing was held on December 14, 2022. The Schedule of Rates and Charges, including the public fire protection charge were approved by the Board, for Water and Water Services supplied on and after April 1, 2023, April 1, 2024, and April 1, 2025, respectively.

The average water bill in Nova Scotia is currently between $135 and $145 per quarter. In Trenton, the average water bill is currently $64 per quarter which equates to only $21 per month. The last water rate increase in Trenton was effective April 1, 2011, with no increase in 12 years.


Proposed increases for an average home (with four residents) are:

  • Effective April 1, 2023 – from $64.20 to $141.60 per quarter
    (Average increase of $309.60/year, $77.40/quarter, $5.95/week, or 85 cents/day)

  • Effective April 1, 2024 – from $141.60 to $165.47 per quarter
    (Average increase of $95.48/year, $23.87/quarter, $1.84/week, or 26 cents/day)

  • Effective April 1, 2025 – from $165.47 to $199.40 per quarter
    (Average increase of $135.72/year, $33.93/quarter, $2.61/week, or 37 cents/day


A large part of the increase, specifically in years 2 and 3, is the result of replacing the aging reservoir and upgrading the water pressure booster station and treatment plant. These improvements are essential for the delivery of safe drinking water.


 Approved increases are related to the changing provincial and federal environmental standards for drinking water, as well as the increases in costs for:

  • Power usage
  • Cost of chemicals and treatments supplies
  • Equipment
  • Transportation costs (fuel, insurance, repairs & maintenance)

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    Welcome Home to Pictou County Guide

    Details
    Published: Wednesday, 16 December 2020 14:45

    The “Welcome Home to Pictou County Guide: A community guide to the place we call home” was created through a partnership between Healthy Pictou County, the Destination Eastern and Northumberland Shores Tourism Association (DEANS), the Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network (REN), and the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce. It was also designed and printed locally by Advocate Printing. Funding was received from the Province of Nova Scotia for a large portion of this project, and we are excited to have it completed.

    This guide is a wonderful piece for people considering our area, those new to the area, and even those who grew up in Pictou County. Take a look, you might just find something new!

    Stop by the local Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library branches to view a hard copy of the guide they will have on reference or visit the Healthy Pictou County website for more information and to view the electronic version (also available below). Any questions or details on ordering your own print run, please email Nicole LeBlanc.

    Welcome Home to Pictou County Guide: a community guide to the place we call home

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