The City of Medicine Hat's water management plan has a set of voluntary and mandatory measures. (Viorel Railean/Dreamstime)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

‘Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best’: Medicine Hat continues drought preparations

May 3, 2024 | 2:54 PM

Medicine Hat continues to prepare for a summer that may bring record-breaking drought conditions that could result in a set of voluntary and mandatory water restrictions, a high-level city official said on Friday.

WATCH: Jamie Garland interviewed on CHAT News at Noon

“We’re preparing for the worst but but hoping for the best,” Jamie Garland, the city’s environmental utilities director, told CHAT News.

The city is in its first phase of its four-step water shortage plan, which commits to an annualized water consumption reduction goal of 10 per cent through mandatory measures for select city departments.

Through the city’s water plan, the city’s various departments will take conservation measures such as reducing city vehicle car washes and reusing fire hydrant water.

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For the public, the plan includes voluntary measures at first but could include mandatory restrictions if the conditions reach a dire level.

Jamie Garland speaks on CHAT News at Noon. (Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News)

Mandatory water conditions would be activated if the city shifts up to Phase 2.

Garland praised the Alberta government for doing its part in preparing for drought conditions.

“The government of Alberta has done a good job in bringing water users together over the fall [and] winter months and working on these water-sharing agreements, which the City of Medicine Hat has been participating in,” Garland said.

Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and others across the province signed voluntary water-sharing agreements with the Alberta government in April.

Alberta on Thursday outlined what it would take for it to active a never-before declared water emergency under the province’s 2024 drought response plan.

The province is currently at the drought plan’s Stage 4 which includes the landmark water-sharing agreements signed in April.

The Stage 5 emergency level is based on three triggers outlined by the province earlier this week.

The city’s current status and water conservation measures can be viewed at MedicineHat.ca.

— with files from Dan Reynish