Petitcodiac River cleaner than last year: tests

Preliminary tests indicate that the Petitcodiac River is clearer and cleaner than it was a year ago, before the controversial opening of the causeway gates.

The tests, which are being conducted by the multinational engineering firm AMEC, are ongoing.

Jacques Paynter, an engineer with AMEC, said Thursday that contamination in the river has been significantly reduced.

"From Salisbury to Hopewell Cape the bacteria concentrations have been greatly diminished," he said.

Water samples were taken at several points along the river. The concentration levels of specific bacteria, most notably E. coli, will be made public next week.

The preliminary results have confirmed what many locals have observed with the naked eye.

Locals have also noticed steady rising and quickening of the tides in the year since the opening of the causeway.

Marco Morency, the riverkeeper of the Petitcodiac, said that the river is not only more abundant but also healthier.

"Fish are coming back to the river. There's more food. It's healthier and eventually we'll see people surfing the tidal bore. That's going to be the cherry on the sundae," he said.

He attributed the reduced bacteria levels to the increased quantity of water flow. "We still put out there the same amount of sewage … so the factor that's involved right now is there's much more water coming into the river so it’s diluted."

Morency said the provincial government still has work to do to complete the renewal process for the river.

"The ball’s going to be in the hands of the provincial government now," he said. "They have to remove the causeway and build a partial bridge to complete the restoration project."

Construction of the bridge could start as early as next spring.