Women's Institutes to Offer Water Quality Workshops

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--Women's Institutes to Offer Water Quality Workshops

A series of workshops scheduled to take place across the province will help Nova Scotians learn more about water quality. The Women's Institutes of Nova Scotia is organizing the workshops, which will be helpful to anyone, whether their water comes from a municipal system or an on-site system, such as a well.

"This is a great opportunity for people to learn more about the good and the bad when it comes to water quality," said Ernest Fage, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. "I encourage people to attend one of the free workshops in their area."

Awareness of water quality issues has grown substantially in the past several years. Now, people want to learn more about the terms associated with bacteria and chemical water problems, which can be confusing.

People deciding to have drinking water supplies tested sometimes have trouble deciding what to test for in their water. They also sometimes need help to interpret the test results.

"There are a number of topics to be covered in each workshop," said Theresa Osborne, of the Women's Institutes of Nova Scotia. "We will look at the safety of drinking water, sources and the treatment of contaminated water, boil orders, water testing, interpreting lab results, bacteria and nutrient problems associated with water and alternative water supplies."

Funding for the workshops has been made available through the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Department of Environment and Labour and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through Agri-Futures, Nova Scotia's Adaptation Council.

The workshop dates are as follows:

• Bridgewater: April 29, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Wileville Fire Hall;
• Yarmouth: April 30, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Meadowfields Community
  Centre;
• Bridgetown: May 1, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Bridgetown Legion;
• Upper Nine Mile River: May 7, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Upper Nine Mile
  River Community Hall;
• Sydney area: May 14, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Homeville Legion;
• Pugwash: May 22, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Pugwash Search and Rescue
  Building;
• Parrsboro: May 23, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., Parrsboro Volunteer Fire
  Hall;
• Windsor: June 4, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., O'Brien Centre;
• Kentville: June 5, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Kentville Research
  Station;
• East River St. Mary's: June 10, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., East River
  St. Mary's Fire Hall.

Members of the public who would like more information can contact the WINS office at 902-893-6520 or visit the Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/wi .