Residents of the area met with several members of local government at City Hall last Friday

Residents of the rural area just outside Spryfield met with several members of local government at City Hall last Friday.

Harrietsfield has had water problems for decades because of a former industrial construction site in the area, which has caused uranium and more to leak into the ground and water supply.

Marlene Brown, a resident and long-time advocate for water hookups in the area, says at first she was excited about the meeting.

"[Councillor Steve] Adams sent me the email inviting me, and he says bring 10-12 other residents with you," Brown tells NEWS 95.7's The Rick Howe Show.

Brown was told that members from five city departments were there: Infrastructure Planning, Finance, Intergovernmental Relations, Halifax Water, and Development and Planning.

"We thought, 'Okay this is good, this is positive. We're moving in the right direction,'" Brown adds.

But she explains that the meeting didn't go quite the way she expected.

"We were told that the federal government would give out 40 per cent, the province 33 per cent, and HRM 27 per cent," Brown says. "But it has to come out of our pockets."

Brown says the city's portion of the money -- the remaining 27 per cent after the other contributions -- would have to be covered by the residents.

Councillor for the area, District 11's Steve Adams, confirms that the amount would be about $26,000 to $27,000 per household.

"We just want water. We sure don't want a $27,000 bill to go with it," says Brown.

And that charge wouldn't even get the water directly to their house.

Councillor Adams says that the initial fee would get the water pipe to the end of their driveway.

"From there they'd have to get a line to their home, which is going to range about 5 to 10 thousand dollars, depending on what the distance is," Adams says.

The group of residents at the meeting were also told that even if they didn't want the water hookup to their home, they'd still have to pay the LIC -- or local improvement charge.

"There was some individuals under the impression that if they didn't buy into the water then they wouldn't be responsible for the LIC," Adams tells NEWS 95.7. "But that's not the case."

Brown says the fight for water in her community has exhausted her.

"I am so used to this going around in a circle," she explains. "I'm just burnt out right now."

The residents of Harrietsfield, Brown says, don't have the funds to pay over thousands to get safe drinking water into their homes.

"We're on a fixed income out here. If people are going to a church to get bottles of water, how are they going to pay $27,000?" she says.

Brown hopes that she can continue to talk to government to reduce the fee that will be passed on to homeowners.

"Anything would help. Even bring out a water truck and let people fill up," she adds.

Councillor Adams says he understands that people in the community may be worried about paying for the water hookup.

"For some people, $26,000 might be a million," he explains. "But there were some other options brought forward that Halifax Water staff will be investigating. I emailed Halifax Water today about a cistern system."

According to Adams, the city will continue to work with residents in the coming months to try to come up with a solution that works for everyone.

"Once we get a better handle on what we can do, there'll probably be a questionnaire sent out to residents," Adams adds.