ESSEX, ONT. — Officials in a southwestern Ontario town have temporarily banned outdoor water use for residents in some areas due to low water levels.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Town of Essex says the ban is effective immediately, and until further notice, for residents who are customers of the Harrow and Colchester South Water Treatment Plant.
The town says those residents are barred from using outside water at all times, including for watering lawns and gardens, and must limit non-essential water use as much as possible.
Splash pads in the Harrow and Colchester areas will also be closed until further notice to help conserve water.
It says the move is in response to extreme weather events on the shores of Lake Erie, which have reduced water levels at the plant, as well as the strain caused by increased water consumption during warmer temperatures.
The town says the current water supply remains safe for consumption and doesn’t pose any health risk.
“It is essential that residents of Harrow and Colchester South suspend the use of outside water as a preventative measure to ensure that we do not experience a severe shortage.” Essex Mayor Richard Meloche said in a statement.