The City of Calgary announced new restrictions on outdoor watering Tuesday morning.
“We continue to see dry conditions and record low natural flow levels on the Bow and Elbow Rivers,” explained Nicole Newton, Calgary’s manager of natural environment and adaptation. “Also, Environment Canada is predicting a warm and dry winter, so this is an important measure to help us sustain Calgary’s water supply in the Glenmore Reservoir through to the spring, as well as to support our neighbours and the river health downstream.”
The flow on the Elbow, said Newton, is the lowest it’s been since around 2000 and the Bow River is the lowest it’s been since 1911.
Newton said Tuesday marked the first time the city has initiated water restrictions due to drought.
The Stage 1 restrictions include:
- Watering of lawns, gardens, trees and shrubs with a hose connected sprinkler will be reduced to once per week for a maximum of two hours, within specified time periods (4am- 7am, 9am-11am, and 7pm-10pm). House numbers ending with an odd number may water on Thursdays or Sundays, while houses ending with an even number may water on Wednesdays or Saturdays.
- Reducing watering programs for certified customers with a Tier One water managed system by 10 per cent and Tier Two water managed systems by 15 per cent.
- A ban on pesticide or fertilizer application that require potable water, unless exception granted by the director of water services.
- A ban on washing of sidewalks, driveways, exterior buildings walls except for child care facilities, food and beverage establishments, and animal care facilities that are required to do so under health and safety regulations.
- A ban on window washing except for licensed cleaning services.
- A ban on outdoor vehicle washing except for vehicles that must be cleaned under health and safety regulations.
- A ban on the filling of fountains and decorative features.
Under Stage 1, there will be no restrictions on:
- Watering gardens, trees and shrubs (but not lawns) using spring-loaded type nozzles with automatic shut-off hose connections or by hand using watering cans or buckets.
- Watering of new sod installed within the last 21 days or grass seeds planted within the last 45 days.
- Watering of plants for commercial sale.
Anyone found in violation may face a fine of at least $400.
Newton said the rain forecast for later in the week will be welcomed, but the measures announced Tuesday are meant to help address long-term water supply concerns.
“Currently the long term forecast is indicating that we will experience a dry winter and potentially a hot and dry summer next year, so we’re taking actions in order to prepare for that in terms of managing our water supply today,” Newton said.
“I don’t think we want to be in Stage 1 one any longer than we need to.”
Edwin Cey, an assistant professor at the University of Calgary and head of the geoscience department, said spring arrived about a month earlier than normal this year, resulting in earlier melt of the snowpack from the mountains and peak in flow for the Bow and Elbow rivers.
“Looking forward to water levels next year, again, the rivers themselves are really reliant on those mountain snowpacks,” Cey said, saying the region currently has a “buffer” to help endure current drought conditions.
Cey said hydrologists and climate scientists have warned about the effects of climate change on the Calgary region’s water supply: earlier melt events, earlier river peaks and flows.
“A few good rainfall events and we might be just be back in a much better position or a good winter snowpack can do a lot,” he said. “And the concern is, if we start having several of these years back to back, we deplete the reserves — so then entities like the City of Calgary maybe can’t use the Glenmore Reservoir to manage the water system the way they would like.
“And that’s when it could really become problematic.”
Airdrie moves to Stage 2 restrictions
Airdrie, Alta., a city immediately to Calgary’s north, announced Stage 2 water restrictions on Tuesday.
Like Calgary, watering of lawns, gardens, trees and shrubs are limited. Airdrie residents are allowed to water one day per week for a maximum of one hour between 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. or 1 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Gardens, trees and shrubs can be watered with handheld containers, but Airdronians are asked to not water at the hottest point in the day.
Like in Calgary, washing of building exteriors and windows in Airdrie is not permitted at this time.
Unlike Calgary, filling hot tubs, swimming pools and wading pools is prohibited in Airdrie, as well as filling fountains or other decorative features.
Construction water use for tasks like grading, compaction and dust control is allowed in Airdrie.
–with files from The Canadian Press