After a summer that left parts of New Brunswick facing one-in-50-year drought conditions, Saint John Water is taking proactive steps to secure the city’s water supply. Crews are currently preparing to dredge key channels in the Loch Lomond watershed to ensure water keeps flowing when the warmer months arrive.
According to a report by CBC News, the utility is targeting a shallow channel connecting First Lake and Robertson Lake near the airport. This specific connection point controls how much water reaches the city during dry spells.
Why Dredging is Necessary Now
Last year, the federal government classified the eastern half of New Brunswick as being in “extreme drought.” Saint John experienced its fourth driest August on record, forcing the city to ask residents to conserve water. To prevent a repeat of that stress, crews will use large excavators to scrape accumulated sand and gravel from the lake bottom.
Dean Price, the utility’s manager for source water protection, told Information Morning Saint John that removing these “sand bars” is critical. If the channel blocks up, the city faces expensive and messy alternatives, such as emergency pumping or mandatory, severe water restrictions.
Impact on Local Traffic and Residents
If you commute near the airport or the lakes, you need to stay alert. The city advises drivers to exercise caution on Barnesville Road (Route 820) and St. Martins Road (Route 111) while maintenance crews and heavy machinery are onsite.
While the lakes are currently full, Price warns that residents relying on private wells—especially older, shallow ones—should monitor their water levels closely as the season progresses.
What to Expect Next
Saint John Water is also seeking permits to perform similar maintenance in four other locations, including Baxter’s Corner between First and Second Lake. While the dredging might stir up sediment, the Loch Lomond Drinking Water Treatment facility filters this out, meaning you shouldn’t see any change in water quality at your tap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this affect the quality of my drinking water?
No. While the dredging process causes some cloudy water in the lake due to sediment, the city’s treatment facility filters this out before it reaches your home.
Are there water restrictions currently in place?
No. The lakes are currently full. This work is a preventative measure to avoid the need for emergency restrictions during the summer months.
Where is the work taking place?
The primary work is happening at the channel connecting First Lake and Robertson Lake near the Saint John Airport. Drivers should be careful on Barnesville Road and St. Martins Road.
I believe, especially during the drought conditions, the City should ban such things as watering lawns. I also believe that there should be fines for doing so. Last summer I heard about droughts in various areas of NB. I may have misunderstood, but I thought Saint John was included, so I stopped watering my lawn. However I was the only one on our street who didn’t have a beautiful green lawn , so I may have been wrong.
I would like to suggest that the City of Saint John not attempt to use their limited knowledge in the use of municipal well systems as they did with the west side fiasco but that they enlist the expertise of municipalities who have been successfully operating ground wayter systems for decades such as Charlottetown, PEI-Miramachi, NB and Fredericton, NB.
It would definetly be to the city’s advantage to enlist these experts to augment their water supply so that they have sufficient water supply for these droughts conditions.
Ron Bennett, P. Tech