Regional water conservation bylaw takes effect

A yearly regional bylaw on conserving water is now in effect.

From May 31 to September 30, all households in the region will be restricted to lawn watering to one day a week. Watering can only be done between 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Individual days are assigned by the last digit of an address as follows:

• 0 or 1 water lawns on Mondays
• 2 or 3 water lawns on Tuesdays
• 4 or 5 water lawns on Wednesdays
• 6 or 7 water lawns on Thursdays
• 8 or 9 water lawns on Fridays

Other water activities, like watering a garden, washing a car or filling up a pool are restricted to every other day under the same time period with an odd-even number system. If an address ends in an odd number (1,3,5,7,9), their day falls on an odd-numbered calendar day, and the same of even numbers (2,4,6,8,0).

The Region said before the bylaw was in place, water usage would increase by 50 per cent during the summer months that would impact the water supply and distribution system.

More information on special permits for the bylaw can be found on the region’s website.