High heat and a lack of rain have prompted warnings to conserve water use across most of the region.
Both the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority and the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority have raised their low water status to level one.
“A level one dictates that a 10 per cent voluntary reduction would be implemented,” says Peter Alm, a water resource engineer with NVCA. “That would be a reduction in irrigation, industrial processes for residential water use, for any kind of water use.”
The conservation authorities are among eight watersheds across the province that are experiencing low flow conditions.
If water levels continue to drop, the NVCA will ask for a 20 per cent reduction in water usage – a voluntary reduction.
At the same time, the Town of Shelburne is implementing its water restriction bylaw.
“Watering lawns and vegetables is being restricted to next to none in the interim. It starts tomorrow and probably go for two weeks or more,” says Shelburne CAO John Telfer.
The only exception is fresh laid sod; watering that is only allowed every other day between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Residents who don’t adhere to the bylaw could face a fine.
Town officials say there is no emergency, but they are doing their part to conserve water.
