Rothesay urges residents to limit toilet use, orders porta potties to cope with flooding

The Town of Rothesayis urging residents to limit their toilet and water use and has ordered enough portapotties to serve 1,000 peoplein a bid to reducethe amount of raw sewage contaminating floodwaters.

The move comes after New Brunswick Emergency Measures officials warned Sunday thatfloodwaters in the province can be "heavily contaminated" from overwhelmedsewerage systems and pose health risks, such as illness and infections.

Mayor Nancy Grant said all of the municipality's pumping stations andlagoons are under water.

"So unfortunately what that means is that the sewage fromRothesayis still going into the [Kennebecasisand St. John River system],but it's untreated," she told CBC News.

• Floodwaters in southern N.B. 'heavily contaminated,' emergency officials warn
• Saint John flood recovery will be 'really long': EMO

Flooding in the southern region reached historic levels over the weekend, EMO officials said, and stood at 5.73 metres inRothesayas of Monday afternoon.Flood stage is 4.2 metres.

"If your home is flooded, you do not have working sewer," Grant advisedresidents of the affluent communityin a video message on Facebook.

"If your home is not flooded butnear the river, youlikelystillhave working sewer, butit's at risk.

"Soplease use your plumbingsystemsparingly."

"It's a volume issue. The pipes are filled to capacityand less input means that less raw sewage will go into the river."

The town is also asking residents to avoid using appliances with pressurized drainage, such as washing machines and dishwashers.

Sixportapotties have already been placed in various locations throughout the town, includingRothesayPark, Tennis Court Road andSagamorePoint, and the town has ordered 300 more for homes.

The town's water is undergoing extra testing and is safe to drink. No boiling is required, she stressed.

But anyone on a wellwho hasfloodwater in their yard should not drink their water, Grant said. Bottled water isavailable at theRothesayArena.

Residents with floodwater in their yard should take precautions, including proper handwashingand protectingchildren and pets,the mayor said.