November 5, 2025
Dear Editor,
I read your editorial, “… till the well runs dry” in the October 15th issue of The Oran discussing the drought we have all been experiencing here in Cape Breton and specifically Inverness County, describing the situation as, “one hell-of-a spring, summer and even fall this year, 2025.”
You also mentioned in your editorial that “no water” will bring on anxiety. I can tell you for a fact, the opposite conditions can have the same effect and worse.
I am a senior woman living alone in our old ancestral home, which for over 120 years, has never had any problems with disrupted ground water causing our lawns to have large and growing sink holes. In addition, these last several months, there is water flowing under the house creating sink holes in our basement, cracks in our foundation, (I was told a few years ago by a structural engineer, that our house had the strongest foundation he had seen in this area), causing structural damage to the house, and causing mold in the basement. I’ve burned out two dehumidifiers and spent a small fortune on anti-mold fog machines and solutions.
Our front deck is separating from the house, some floors are sagging and the hardwood in the living and dining room floors is buckling, and the plaster on the walls is cracking.
This is more than an ‘anxiety’ producing situation. I am in a crisis here!
I wish to inform you that, in early September, I phoned Warden Bonny MacIsaac, informed her of the situation and asked for guidance. Bonny arrived with Roy MacLean from the municipality, who took photos of the sink holes outside, reminding me not to step into the large sinkholes for fear of how deep they may go. He also photographed the cracks in my neighbour’s foundation, and of the damage inside our home. Roy said he was shocked and that, “this is the worst water damage I’ve seen in Inverness area.” He promised me that the county would get to the bottom of this and find where the water was coming from and get back to me in a couple of days. I reminded him that this is a growing crisis! He agreed.
A half hour later, Bonny brought MLA Kyle MacQuarrie to our home to also inspect the growing damages. He did inspect both inside and outside. He told me that water finds its own way, to which I responded that we are in a drought, there has been no rain, wells are dry all over Inverness County, yet our yard, basement and foundation are getting flooded. It is a no brainer that the water must be coming from the Forest Street water infrastructure and the collapsed brook drain, caused by the removal of the drainpipe by the neighbour across the road several years ago.
I called Cary MacLean, of MacLean Construction, to come inspect the damages, as he was the one who, in late June 2025, replaced the pipe across the road carrying the brook water. He agreed I was likely correct on the source of the damaging water. I shared this with our MLA and to the municipality.
After a week of no response from municipality, I began phoning the county. I got no answer so I called Bonny MacIsaac, who informed me that a meeting regarding this ongoing damage was just wrapping up and that the county inspected the Forest Street water lines and found, “no anomalies.” Really?!
I asked her to have the municipality send me a copy of the report findings.
I would like to add, I have since asked for the report several times. Three weeks ago, Bonny MacIsaac told me she made another request and was told the report would be expedited. It has not.
After initially writing and thanking all parties for their commitment to find a solution to this very damaging situation, I have continued to reach out to Bonny MacIsaac, Municipal CAO, Keith MacDonald, Roy MacLean, MLA Kyle MacQuarrie, by telephone, text, email, and going in person to request a few minutes conversation. I have not had a response to any of the above, except a few call backs from Bonny MacIsaac passing on a message, such as MLA Kyle MacQuarrie wanting to know where I file my personal taxes. Apparently, the over $5,000 we pay on Municipality taxes doesn’t count?
I wrote an additional email to Keith MacDonald on October 14th, 2025, spelling out in detail some of the damage happening due to disrupted water lines and urging him to come and view for himself. He didn’t respond.
Two weeks ago, Keith MacDonald returned a couple of my calls, first leaving a message that he would call back to let me know when he could come. I waited all day for the call that never came.
I called Keith back and told him I had waited and was disappointed he had not.
Keith did call and speak with me last Monday to say he would come next day, Tuesday, and asked what time I started my day. I told him I would be in my kitchen with the coffee on at 9:00 a.m. He said he could come between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. I waited until just after 2:00 p.m. for a phone call or a visit. Although I did provide him with both home and cell phone numbers, I remained close to the house phone in case he called that number to advise he was delayed or to reschedule. There was no visit and no call.
I phoned Keith back to let him know I was very disappointed that he did not come to view the ongoing damage as he said he would. I know he is a very busy man, but could he not have given me the courtesy of a quick call to say he wouldn’t?
Keith MacDonald did call me back last week to say he could come here on Thursday or Friday and would call on Wednesday to let me know which day. I waited for the call. The call didn’t come and no inspection visit has been made.
I am through waiting on any support or help from this municipality or from our MLA. After the initial inspection in September and the promises that they would find the water source and stop it, ASAP and get back to me in a few days, they also agreed that repairs to our yard and home would not be our responsibility.
I am very disappointed and disgusted in their continued broken promises and continued broken water pipes. I am sick of watching helplessly at our home and property are being destroyed.
We are forced now to seek other solutions including lawsuits.
I guess now we know why the municipality has a surplus in the budget. Are they forgetting that it is our money and we pay their salaries!
Talk is cheap! The municipality has certainly proved that!
Lena A Macdonald
Inverness
