Calgary considering permanent outdoor water schedules to reduce water usage

The watering schedule is part of a larger plan to curb water use, but some say other actions could be considered before more water restrictions.

Calgary councillors will debate a proposed water efficiency plan that aims to bring down the city’s per-capita water usage by 20 per cent by the year 2040.

The 11-point plan, if passed, would introduce an outdoor watering schedule, update water meters and advance a plan to fix leaks in aging infrastructure.

“Advancing water efficiency supports reliable service delivery, reduces vulnerability to water shortages, and supports long-term city building in a drought prone region,” reads a report that was passed by a city committee last week.

The plan still needs approval from council as a whole before it is implemented.

An outdoor water schedule would restrict sprinkler use to certain days, which would be based on a home’s address.

Some councillors want to see actions like the water infrastructure upgrades to advance before any more rules are considered.

“It’s really ironic now, after we’ve told Calgarians for two years that they went through severe water restrictions, to now impose on them endless permanent restrictions when it’s our fault,” said Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean.

“It’s our fault that the water pipes were broke. It’s our fault that we weren’t maintaining them.”

Calgary loses about 20 per cent of its water through leaks in its infrastructure.

“It’s really important for us to actually look at the city’s own business first before asking Calgarians to change their behaviors,” Mayor Jeromy Farkas told CTV News.

The proposed plan estimates the price tag for infrastructure investments and programs could reach $400 million through 2030.

Other water efficiency actions includes expanding or introducing incentive programs for things like water-friendly landscaping and water efficient fixtures and appliances.

While those programs and infrastructure upgrades take time, an outdoor water schedule is something that can be implemented quickly and have a real impact, says Michelle Anderson, the principal investigator in sustainability sciences at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).

“An outdoor water schedule is a really cost-effective way of reducing demand, especially in the summer when demand can increase up to 40 per cent compared to the winter,” she said.

“What’s important about outdoor watering schedules is that this isn’t something new. This is something that other jurisdictions have been doing across North America for quite some time.”

Council is set to debate the water efficiency plan later this month.