WATCH ABOVE: Dry conditions has several municipalities in Alberta restricting water use. Eric Szeto reports.
EDMONTON — The dry conditions have prompted several communities around Alberta to issue water use restrictions.
Parkland County and the Town of Stony Plain have issued water use restrictions because of low levels of water in the reservoir.
Stony Plain residents are being asked to follow odd-even yard watering, which means residents with even numbered addresses can only water on even numbered days, and those with odd house numbers water on odd days. The town is also suspending use of potable water for all non-essential activities.
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“We’re just taking some proactive measures at the moment, asking residents to just be conscious of the situation, trying to conserve your water consumption,” says Stephanie Boisvert, a communications officer with the Town of Stony Plain.
The average water consumption has nearly doubled over the past several days, according to the town.
“It is spring time. People like to get their gardening going so people are watering their gardens this time of year,” says Boisvert.
“We’re just asking that people be conscious of this. The best times to water would be between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.”
Meanwhile, Leduc County is also asking residents to stop non-essential water use because of dry conditions.
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Water use in the county is currently higher than supply.
The restrictions will be lifted once water reservoirs have been restored to 65 per cent and the weather forecast indicates that level can be sustained.
Farther north, the Town of Wembley has also implemented a water restriction. The town says all outdoor water use is prohibited due to low water supply.
“The warm dry conditions this spring have increased water usage and the town water sources are not keeping up to the demand. The current reservoir levels are lower than what the town feels is safe so the town will be hauling water to bring up the reservoir level,” reads a statement on the Government of Alberta’s website.
Wembley residents are asked to follow the restrictions to allow the water supply to recover.
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