Halifax Lakes Face High Salinity, Threatening Ecosystems

New data reveals excessive salt levels in over a dozen lakes, prompting calls for improved stormwater management.

• Recent studies from the LakeWatchers Program indicate that 10 Halifax lakes exceed national guidelines for chloride levels.
• Lakes such as Lovett, Banook, and Micmac show particularly high salt concentrations, with Lovett nearly doubling the recommended limit.
• Elevated salinity is harming aquatic life by disrupting natural mixing cycles and leading to increased algae and weeds.
• Halifax officials are considering policy changes to manage stormwater runoff, which is a major source of salt in urban lakes.
• The municipality is urging the provincial government to establish water quality standards to enable infrastructure upgrades.

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