May rain helps but water plans remain: Medicine Hat official

Environmental utilities director Jamie Garland said Monday voluntary efforts to reduce non-essential water use will still remain under Phase 1 of the city’s Water Shortage Management Plan.

“Fortunately in May, not too many of us had to do much watering because it rained fairly regularly,” Garland said.

“But we’re still expecting it to warm up, we’re expecting that to increase and we’re just asking people to try to do their part.”

For Phase 1, the city is asking residents to limit the watering of lawns and gardens to 60 minutes per day and not water more than three days per week.

The City of Medicine Hat’s Water Shortage Management Plan has four phases. Courtesy: City of Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat’s parks and recreation department is committed to a 25 per cent water use reduction as part of the first phase.

Mandatory water conditions for residents would be activated if the city shifts up to the second of four phases.

READ: City signs voluntary agreement with Alberta to cut water usage

The City of Medicine Hat is also a voluntary participant to a historic water-sharing agreement with other large water license holders in the Oldman River sub-basin with the goal to reduce water use by 10 per cent.

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.

by Jesse Gill, Eli J. Ridder

May rain helps but water plans remain: Medicine Hat official

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