Residents

Public Works

Question: How do I report a street light out?

Answer: You can request a street light repair at Nova Scotia Power Inc. or call 1-800-428-6230.

Question: How do I report a water main leak?

Answer: You can report a water main leak 24 hours a day by contacting Richmond County Public Works.

8:30 am to 4:00 pm (business hours): (902) 226-2400, (902) 226-3989, (902) 226-3988
After hours and weekends: (902) 226-3988

Question: I have a sewer pipe blockage and/or backup in my home, what should I do?

Answer: If you have a sewer pipe blockage and/or backup in your home you should contact a plumbing contractor. A plumbing contractor will investigate to determine the cause of the problem and take corrective action. A plumbing contractor will also be able to determine if the pipe blockage is in the section of pipe maintained by the homeowner or the Municipality. Check the yellow pages for a list of plumbing contractors.

Question: I see the red light on top of a sewage pumping station is on, what should I do?

Answer: If you see that a red light on top of a sewage pumping station is on, you should immediately contact Richmond County Public Works. You can contact us 24 hours a day using the following contact information:

8:30 am to 4:00 pm (business hours): (902) 226-2400, (902) 226-3989, (902) 226-3988
After hours and weekends: (902) 226-3988

Question: I am experiencing a period of discoloured water, what should I do?

Answer: If you are experiencing a period of water discoloration you should first try to open your water fixtures for a few minutes to flush your water service and plumbing pipes. Most of the time a period of water discoloration is short-lived and the problem will correct itself. Occasionally open fire hydrants can cause some rust and scale products, which normally adhere to the inside of the water mains, to break away. This sediment disturbance may cause water to appear cloudy or dirty. Water main repair or construction can also cause this temporary inconvenience. If this condition occurs in your system, allow the cold-water tap to run until the water clears. If you are experiencing a prolonged period of discoloured water you can contact Richmond County Public Works 24 hours a day using the following contact information:

8:30 am to 4:00 pm (business hours): (902) 226-2400, (902) 226-3989, (902) 226-3988
After hours and weekends: (902) 226-3988

Question: How do I apply for a water system connection and/or a sewer system connection?

Answer: Water and sewer system service connection applications are available at the Municipal Administration Building in Arichat between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. The pdf application form(35 KB) can also be downloaded. The deadline for water and sewer service connection applications is typically the last business day of September. All water and sewer service connection applications must be approved by the Municipal Engineer prior to installation by Public Works field staff. If approved by the Municipal Engineer there is a $400.00 charge for a sewer system connection. Water system connections, if approved, are at a charge of $2,000 to the applicant.

Question: Why does my water have a chlorine taste or smell? What can I do to remove it?

Answer: Chlorine is the disinfecting agent used by most public water systems to kill bacteria during the water treatment process. A small amount is left in the water right up to your tap to inhibit microbial growth in the piping. To remove the chlorine taste or smell, fill a clean pitcher or container with cold tap water and leave it uncovered overnight in the refrigerator. The chlorine content will dissipate.

Question: Is my water safe to drink?

Answer: Yes. The Municipality of the County of Richmond Water Utility must adhere to strict guidelines and standards for safe drinking water. Water Utility staff monitors the water treatment and distribution systems on a daily basis, and submit weekly samples to a third-party laboratory for microbial and bacteriological testing. Information regarding the Nova Scotia drinking water standards is available at Nova Scotia Environment.

Question: How do I arrange to have my water service turned off or on?

Answer: If you need to have your water service connection turned off or on you can contact Richmond County Public Works between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm Monday to Friday at (902) 226-2400. If it is an emergency situation you can contact a staff person 24 hours a day by calling (902) 226-3988.

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Keeping Residents Informed

Website

Information is updated frequently, so we encourage residents to check in often to stay informed. The website has accessibility features built-in, click on the round, blue accessibility symbol at the bottom of the screen to open the menu selections.

Social Media

We are very social, follow us and share information with others in your community. You will find us on:

Community Calendar

Community events and meeting dates in the Community Calendar.

Recreation Activities

You will find recreational activities on the program registration page, visit Program Registration.

Richmond Reflections

The Municipal newsletter, Richmond Reflections is a quarterly newsletter mailed to all Richmond County households through Canada Post. The newsletter is used to share information on programming and municipal services. Digital versions are also available. at Richmond Reflections.

"Contact Us" Form

If you can not find what you are looking for or have questions/concerns or feedback...we want to hear from you!

Recorded Meetings & Live Stream

Committee of the Whole and Regular Council meetings are filmed and live-streamed. Recorded meetings are available for viewing 24/7. You can watch the live stream on the Municipality of the County of Richmond (MOCR) YouTube channel, as well as view previously recorded meetings. Browse the list of recorded meetings at Recorded Council Meetings.

Opportunities for Public Participation

Attend Council & Committee Meetings

Council and committee meetings held in Council Chambers are open to the public. To view the schedule of meetings go to Schedule of Meetings.

Question Period

Members of the gallery and those watching live may ask questions during question period. The question period for the Committee of the Whole is not restricted to items on the agenda. Regular Council meetings are subject to the agenda. The Warden will let members of the gallery and those watching live, the cue to call in and provide the phone number. (902) 226-9885

Present to Council

Presentations are scheduled based on how many requests have been received and whether any are time-sensitive. For more information contact the Municipal Clerk.

Public Hearings

Attending a public hearing

Council is required to conduct public hearings regarding land use applications/land use bylaws/rezoning. These public hearings are organized by the Eastern District Planning Commission and are open for anyone to speak at or to submit written comments to. Public hearings are advertised at least 14 days in advance, typically in The Reporter and the MOCR website. At times, Richmond Municipal Council may conduct public hearings that are not required by legislation. These public hearings are organized by the Municipality, advertised at least 14 days in advance, and are open for anyone to speak or to submit written comments.

The Public Hearing is open to all members of the public. If you believe that you are affected by a proposed land use application/ land use by-law/rezoning or other by-law you may make a presentation or submit written comments at the Public Hearing.

Participating in the Public Hearing Process

Written Submissions (in favour or opposition)

We encourage the public to send written submissions by 4 pm on the date of the Public Hearing, however, submissions received right up to the time of the Public Hearing will be accepted. All submissions will form part of the record of the hearing. Written comments can be submitted in the following ways:

By Mail:
Municipal Clerk
Municipality of the County of Richmond
P.O. Box 120, 2357 Hwy 206, Arichat, NS, B0E 1A0

By Email:

By Fax:
(902) 226-1510

Oral presentations (in favour or opposition)

Persons wishing to make an oral presentation may do so by registering their name with the Municipal Clerk by 4 pm on the date of the Public Hearing or by registering on the night of the meeting. We recommend that anyone interested in speaking to an item arrive at the Council Chambers at the beginning of the meeting.