Annual Lead and Copper Sampling for Residential Tap Water

May 27, 2025

The CBRM Water Utility is seeking volunteers for the 2025 annual lead and copper sampling program for residential tap water. The program is for customers of the CBRM Water Utility, not for those whose water source is a well.

The Water Utility routinely monitors water quality within distribution systems. In 2020, Nova Scotia Environment introduced additional sampling requirements for lead and copper within customers’ homes.

This sampling program will be provided free of charge to a limited number of customers in each CBRM distribution system (Sydney, Glace Bay, Northside, New Waterford, Louisbourg, Floral Heights and Centreville).

Participants will be registered on a first come, first served basis until the program goals are met. The program occurs every year, but sampling will not begin until July.

People can sign up online at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Z_LdnqOc50CxgTv-pIzMVXwfDnlLQ41hmetmG0oqFrA

This water sampling will determine if lead and copper are present in customers’ tap water, and a results letter will be provided. Although lead and copper can occur naturally in the environment, a main source in drinking water is through leaching of plumbing materials such as pipes, solder, faucets, and fittings. While copper is an acceptable material for use in plumbing, lead is no longer an acceptable building material.

The National Plumbing Code allowed lead material in pipes until 1975, lead in solder until 1986, and lead in fittings or faucets until 2013. In 2019, Health Canada lowered the maximum acceptable concentration for lead in drinking water from 0.010 mg/L to 0.005 mg/L, and introduced a new maximum acceptable concentration for copper of 2 mg/L.

Health Canada also changed the acceptable locations for sample collection. Samples for lead and copper must now be collected within homes and buildings where customers obtain water for drinking and cooking.

The municipality aims to conduct sampling at approximately 150 residences from among the municipality's water system customers.

Paying bills in the event of a Canada Post strike

May 22, 2025

Important information for residents in the event of a Canada Post strike.

Water and property tax bills must still be paid by the original deadline listed on your bill. 

In the event of a strike, the only methods of bill distribution will be email (upon request) or in-person at City Hall. Residents can request their balance by contacting our 311 team through our website contact form at https://cbrm.frontlinesvc.com/app/ask or, if online is not preferred, calling 311.  Billing by area will continue as scheduled and residents are expected to pay their bills on time.  Accounts not paid by the billing due date will be subject to interest charges.

PAYMENT OPTIONS: 

IN PERSON

Payments can be made in person by visiting the Citizen Service Centre at 320 Esplanade, Sydney, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also visit any bank or credit union to pay in person at your local branch. 

ONLINE BANKING

You can add: 

Cape Breton Regional Municipality Water or

Cape Breton Regional Municipality Tax 

as a payee through your financial institution's online banking platform. 

Alternatively, you can pay by credit card through Paymentus Corporation. Credit card payments can be completed online by accessing the secure payment page at https://ipn.paymentus.com/rotp/CBRM or by calling Paymentus’ toll-free number at 1-866-837-4603 to use the automated payment system. Please note that Paymentus charges a convenience fee of 1.75%

Below is the billing schedule for water/wastewater bills. 

Bills are generated and mailed in the same billing month. 

Specific maps are available on CBRM’s website.

- February, May, August, November

County (Point Aconi, Leitches Creek)

North Sydney

Sydney Mines

Sydney 5 and 6 (South Bar and Pier)

Glace Bay 3 (Reserve Mines, Dominion St, Tower Road)

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CBRM's 2025 Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality invites residents to two celebrations this summer: Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day. Both events are free to attend and will include live music, food, and fun for all ages.

Canadian Multiculturalism Day will take place on Friday, June 27, from 5 to 9 p.m. outside City Hall on the Esplanade. Hosted by the CBRM in partnership with the Multicultural Association of Cape Breton, the event will celebrate the diverse cultures of the region. Attendees can enjoy live performances, interactive games and crafts, and a community handprint mural. An international food festival will also be featured, offering dishes from local restaurants at $5 per serving.

While many community-led Canada Day celebrations are happening across the municipality, the CBRM’s main event will be held at Open Hearth Park in Sydney.

The event begins at 4 p.m. with two areas to explore: the Family Zone and the Songwriters Picnic. The Family Zone will feature inflatable games, music, and activities for kids and families. Meanwhile, the Songwriters Picnic will offer live performances by Kaia Kater, Rose Morrison, and the ABMHS Women’s Drum Group in a relaxed, picnic-style setting.

Mainstage performances start at 8 p.m. with Hearts of Kin, followed by a headline show from seven-time JUNO Award winner Serena Ryder. The evening will conclude with a fireworks display over the park at 10 p.m., visible from surrounding areas.

Full transit service will be available on Canada Day, except for Route 2. To accommodate the celebrations, the following changes will be in place:

• Route 1 will be extended to Intercolonial and Ferry Street to help people reach Open Hearth Park.

• Route 5 will have an additional run at the end of the day for Northside events.

• Route 6 will serve the Canada Day celebrations at Petersfield Park.

• Route 9 will provide night service transferring people from Route 1 at CBU to New Waterford if needed.

To request Handi-Trans service on Canada Day, bookings must be made by 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 26. To book, call 902-539-4336.