Water Utility
Water Utility Source Water Protection Birch Grove
 Birch GroveJohn Allen LakeBirch Grove has obtained drinking water from John Allen Lake since the early 1900s. the small lake drains a tiny basin of 94 hectares right in Birch Grove. An upgraded pumping house and tank was installed in 1977 and a new treatment plant came on line in 200. Unfortunately, regulations quickly changed and the new plant needed another expensive upgrade. In 2011, rather than upgrade the plant at John Allen Lake, the CBRM Water Utility constructed a distribution line from the Glace Bay water treatment plant.By mid-summer 2011, about half the Birch Grove residents were drinking water from MacAskill Brook Dam Reservoir.By year end, John Allen Lake will no longer be used as a drinking water source.
John Allen Lake with the MacAskill Brook Dam Reservoir in the background The source water protection plans for John Allen Lake, Sand Lake, and the Glace Bay water supply were developed by one committee, the Birch Grove and Area Source Water Protection Planning Committee. The link below takes you to the web page for the Birch Grove and Area Source Water Protection Planning Committee, who also helped prepare Source Water Protection Plans for MacAskill Brook Dam Reservoir and Sand Lake. John Allen Lake Source Water Protection Planning CommitteeJohn Allen Lake MapsSource Water Protection PlanIf you are interested in attending a meeting of the Birch Grove and area SWPP committee or have any questions or concerns related to the Birch Grove water supply watershed please contact the watershed coordinator. Britt Roscoe |
