The City of Lethbridge has agreed to cut local water use by 10 per cent as one of the voluntary parties to a series of major water-sharing agreements. (Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale, Eli J. Ridder

City of Lethbridge agrees to cut water usage by 10 per cent for potential drought scenario

Apr 19, 2024 | 1:18 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The City of Lethbridge is one of the southern Alberta communities that has agreed to cut water usage.

The province has worked with 38 of the largest and oldest water licencees in southern Alberta to reduce water usage should severe drought conditions develop this year.

Lethbridge mayor Blaine Hyggen said, “The City of Lethbridge thanks the province for spearheading these water-sharing agreements. The agreements are the culmination of time, effort and collaboration between many stakeholders.”

He added, “The City of Lethbridge is proud to be involved in this important work. We will continue working with our regional water partners, and the province, to ensure this vital resource is used efficiently and responsibly.”

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The City of Lethbridge has agreed to cut local water use by 10 per cent as one of the voluntary parties to a series of major water-sharing agreements, which the province unveiled on Friday, April 19, 2024.

Director of Infrastructure Services at the City of Lethbridge, Joel Sanchez, gave some information on the water usage.

Sanchez said right now, Lethbridge residents are being asked to conserve water voluntarily. Sanchez added that measures, such as keeping showers short and doing fewer loads of laundry, will help.

He added that after the calculations of the snowpack come in, and the City assesses the water level, they could move into phase one of the Water Conservation Plan by early-to-mid May. Sanchez explained that the plan would affect how much farms would be able to use water outdoors.

READ MORE: Water conservation plan presented at City of Lethbridge meeting

In addition to Lethbridge, Lethbridge County and Medicine Hat have all agreed to activate the Oldman South Saskatchewan River Basin memorandum of understanding to save 10 per cent compared to expected 2024 summer demands.

The government will receive peak snowpack data in late April.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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