Today the County of Grande Prairie Council approved Bylaw 3234, the Water Restriction Bylaw which will enable sustainable water access for necessary uses during periods of extreme dryness and low water levels.

There are currently no plans to restrict water usage within the County of Grande Prairie, however the bylaw enables the County to respond if water levels in municipal water sources reduce significantly.

Should the need arise, the Water Restriction Bylaw will enable the County of Grande Prairie to implement water restrictions for customers connected to the County’s water systems. It applies to water users serviced by Aquatera and others who rely on the County of Grande Prairie’s water services. The Wapiti River is the water source for Aquatera.

The Water Restriction Bylaw outlines the circumstances when water restrictions may be implemented and how they will be enforced. Human health and safety are prioritized, while other uses are taken into consideration. Non-essential water use may be limited to certain times or prevented for any purpose other than emergencies.

In recent months, many municipalities throughout the province have responded to low water levels by putting water restrictions in place. For example, watering lawns or operating splash parks and pools may be limited to certain days, or hours of the day, to ensure water is available for drinking and other essential uses.

“Outside of Aquatera customers, the County of Grande Prairie is responsible for managing the water supply for our users,” says Ryan Konowalyk, General Manager of Transportation and Utilities. “This bylaw provides a necessary tool to safeguard the water supply for all residents and water users to meet everyone’s needs.”

Residents and water users who have questions regarding their water services can contact the County of Grande Prairie Municipal Utilities Department at 780-532-7393 or Aquatera at 780-538-0340.

Background:

Many areas of Alberta are dealing with drought conditions. The Government of Alberta provides ongoing monitoring of water shortages in Alberta’s river basins and has established a provincial Drought Response Plan which outlines five stages of water shortage response.

Alberta is currently at Stage 4 out of 5 which means there is potential for significant water shortages. The provincial government is working proactively with major water users in affected regions to employ all existing measures to address potential water shortages. More information is available at Drought | Alberta.ca

Aquatera provides municipal water services in some areas of the County of Grande Prairie. It is a regional utility corporation formed by municipalities in the area including the City of Grande Prairie, Town of Sexsmith, Town of Wembley and the County of Grande Prairie. Further information regarding Aquatera’s drought response and water conservation suggestions are available on their website at Drought Response and Water Conservation.

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Media Contact:                

Ryan Konowalyk
General Manager Transportation and Utilities
780-532-9842, extension 1243