Town of Cochrane water systems staff is beckoning Cochranites to follow the watering bylaw — before they wind up with a $250 ticket.
While hand watering outdoor plants is acceptable, running a sprinkler between 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and 1-5 a.m. is not.
“Lately, we’re seeing just as much demand during those (restricted) hours,” explained Rebecca Carroll, water systems technologist with the town.
Since the watering restrictions were added to the bylaw in 2009, Cochrane residents have significantly reduced their water consumption.
Carroll blames the now-rising water use on the explosion in Cochrane’s population — new communities, new residents and a lack of awareness.
It is acceptable to put a sprinkler out for children to run through, but Carroll said this should not be seen as a method of lawn watering.
“If the children are no longer playing in it, please shut your sprinklers off.”
Carroll explained that the long-term impacts of high water consumption rates during restricted hours puts a burden on the water and drainage systems, as water systems are designed for peak flows.
Consistently high water usage could prompt early improvements to water systems — an unnecessary expense for taxpayers.
“As far as environmental impact goes, when someone runs a sprinkler on recently fertilized lawn, the run off winds up in the storm sewer system.”
Carroll noted that it seems while lawn sizes continue to shrink, people continue to buy the biggest sprinklers they can find, often misplacing them and causing excessive run-off into the storm sewer system.
Record water usage peaked in 2006, when Cochrane used 12 million liters in one day. Carroll said Cochrane has been getting close to this number again.
Average winter usage is 4-5 million liters/day.
Learn more at cochrane.ca.
