Lethbridge reveals proposed water conservation plan, no current restrictions in place
With water levels in the Oldman River Reservoir sitting at just over 30 per cent and another drought-like summer predicted, the City of Lethbridge is looking to take steps before the situation worsens.
Normal levels would see the Oldman River Reservoir at 70 per cent for this time of year.
A new water conservation policy brought forward to Thursday’s economic standing policy committee looks at voluntary programs that could help elevate the demand for water in the city and cut water use by 20 per cent by 2030.
In the three-tier policy, the first step would include education and awareness programs that focus on best practices, interactive tools to promote water conservation and activities that promote conservation.
Voluntary measures would include working to achieve a 20 per cent reduction target, identifying leaking faucets and toilets and replacing old fixtures with water-efficient ones.
The policy also includes economic programs such as increasing water rates.
Residents who use more water would pay higher rates. The rates are designed to minimize the financial impact on average consumers.
The scales also provide a choice in summer watering practices. Efficient water usage will lead to lower bills.
The proposed rate changes would not impact 74 per cent of current residential users. Pricing changes are also proposed for the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) sector. The changes would not affect more than 90 per cent of current ICI users.
The third part of the policy would focus on regulations, introduce a new water rationing plan and include four stages. The plan would be used when action needs to be taken to reduce water usage when supply is low.
Stage one has outdoor water rationing including no washing vehicles outside of a carwash, washing outdoor surfaces and filling private in-ground or portable pools larger than 3,000 litres.
Residents would be allowed to water for up to two hours between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. on designated days.
Stage two would build off of stage one, while restricting watering of new lawns, trees and shrubs, with an exception if they were planted less than 10 days prior.
The third stage prohibits the filling of pools, ponds and hot tubs, along with the use of irrigation sprinklers. Only watering by hand would be allowed.
If reached, stage four would prohibit all outdoor watering, including construction projects.
According to the city, in July 2023, water usage in Lethbridge would have drained Henderson Lake approximately five times.
The city says it’s doing its part by installing more water-efficient fixtures in public buildings and centralizing irrigation controls.
There are currently no water restrictions in place for Lethbridge.
The proposed policy will go before city council in the coming months.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections
The Slovak defence minister says doctors are fighting for the life of the country's prime minister, who was shot multiple times after a political event Wednesday afternoon.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge slammed into a bridge pillar in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a smaller and separate island that is home to a university, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION If you think you can’t focus for long, you’re right: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.