The City of Lethbridge is asking residents to help conserve water due to dry and hot conditions in the region. To assist in the conservation efforts, the City will be temporarily closing some spray parks, including the Rotary Fountain at Galt Gardens, at the end of the day Thursday, August 17, 2023. (File photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

City of Lethbridge encouraging water conservation

Aug 17, 2023 | 9:20 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The City of Lethbridge is asking residents to conserve water as hot and dry conditions continue in southern Alberta, and as many water basins in the region experience shortages.

Officials note that voluntary action now should help prevent the need for mandatory restrictions in the coming days and weeks.

Water and Wastewater Engineer with the City of Lethbridge, Matt Harker said, “The City of Lethbridge takes their water from the Oldman Rover, and largely that comes from water at the Oldman Dam.”

“We’ve been looking at those water levels. They’re decreasing and decreasing and not really going back up without any rain, so that was one of the largest measures.”

Harker added that wind and temperatures were also factors in enacting the voluntary water conservation measures.

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Ways that residents and businesses can conserve water include:

• Limiting all outdoor uses, such as watering lawns and washing cars
• Avoiding running taps unnecessarily, and consider reusing water where possible
• Minimizing shower time and bath levels
• Using the washer and dryer only when necessary
• Flushing toilets only when necessary

Officials suggests citizens brainstorm other ideas where water conservation might make sense. The City of Lethbridge meanwhile, is rationing water usage in the following ways:

• Suspending washing of City vehicles unless it is necessary for safety reasons
• Reducing watering in feature parks, sports fields, and schools by 25 per cent
• Reducing watering in other parks and boulevards by 50 per cent
• Temporarily closing Gyro Spray Park at Nicholas Sheran, and Rotary Fountain in Galt Gardens at the end of the day Thursday, August 17, 2023. Legacy Park’s Spray Park will remain open for the time being.
• Dry sweeping where possible

The City of Lethbridge provides water to Coaldale, Coalhurst, Picture Butte, Monarch, Diamond City, Shaughnessy, Iron Springs, Turin and other regional partners. All communities are being asked to help conserve water. Water conservation efforts will remain in place until further notice.

Harker noted that about 110-million litres of water are produced and used per day in the city.

He said, “We have a water rationing policy and that water rationing policy has four different stages, each stage reducing water usage by approximately 10 per cent. That’s the goal.”

Harker remarked, “In a drought situation, every drop counts and is really valuable and so if we can reduce that then we’re just sending more water down the stream for more people to use.”

Officials added that the provincial government continues to monitor the situation across Alberta, observing precipitation levels, reservoirs and lake levels, stream flow rates in rivers and water demand.

Harker explained, “The provincial government are the ones that manage the Oldman Dam and they’re also aware of the situations all around the south. We currently have meetings set up with them for next week to discuss the situation further.”

More details are available at the Government of Alberta website.

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