Calgarians asked to do their part and `make every drop count'
The City of Calgary is asking residents to limit water usage following the signing of a historic agreement between Alberta and several municipalities that will limit consumption by five or 10 per cent if the region faces severe drought conditions this year.
The efforts to conserve water are a response to a spell of several dry years, a warmer spring brought by El Nino and a shortage of water storage options as the population continues to grow. The latest string of snow dumps has helped but haven't made a dent in staving off an eventual drought, authorities add.
Currently, river basins across the province are drying out due to low precipitation, with 51 water shortage advisories in effect in Alberta.
“Calgary has remained in drought conditions since we lifted the water restrictions last fall,” Nicole Newton, manager of natural environment and adaptation with the city, said at a news conference.
“Effective immediately, we are implementing a water reductions advisory asking Calgarians to reduce their water use and make every drop count.”
The city previously encouraged Calgarians to keep their outdoor water consumption to a maximum of four hours per week, choose drought-tolerant plants, take shorter showers, fix leaky faucets and turn off taps while shaving or brushing their teeth.
The city will update its plan with a potential outdoor restriction — the second time in as many years — in June. The restriction will be triggered via a bylaw that Newton said is being reviewed. The city will consider several indicators, including reservoir storage, snowpacks and seasonal forecasts that don't currently mandate constraining supply now, she added.
Meanwhile, the city is cutting the amount of water used in its own operations.
“We're tracking the soil moisture and only watering when you need, and our city vehicles may look a bit dirtier as well,” Newton said. “So, we're making efforts in our operations to be able to reduce water.”
In a previous announcement, the city advised that Calgarians install rain barrels, ensure downspouts are pointed toward their gardens or a rain barrel, and add mulch to garden beds, reducing the need for watering from the city supply.
Such restrictions have helped conserve water. Between August and October last year, Calgary saved 1.5 billion litres of water — equivalent to 606 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Newton said that translates into a reduction of four per cent in consumption.
“We're confident that we can get to that five to 10 per cent with those agreements,” Newton said.
The latest announcement follows four provincial water-sharing agreements that would require farmers, municipalities, businesses and other users to voluntarily reduce their water if southern Alberta is hit by a drought this year.