Calgary passes water efficiency plan, including outdoor watering schedule

Calgary water efficiency plan could limit when you can water your garden or lawn. The plan's aim is to reduce demands for water by 20 per cent by 2040.

After hours of debate Tuesday afternoon, Calgary councillors voted 10-5 in favour of moving ahead with a water efficiency plan, which includes a mandatory outdoor watering schedule.

An effort was made to amend the plan to make the watering schedule voluntary for the first year, but the move was defeated.

“This is a good plan and we should implement it now, rather than later,” said Ward 10 Coun. Andrew Chabot, adding that Calgary is behind on creating such a policy and other cities started implementing similar plans in 2012.

The water efficiency plan is an 11-point path towards reducing water demand in the city by 20 per cent by the year 2040.

Other points include expanded water efficiency incentive programs and fast-tracking hundreds of millions of dollars in spending to repair or replace Calgary’s aging water infrastructure.

The city loses between 20-25 per cent of its water due to cracks and breaks in its aging water system.

The mayor and councillors say they received hundreds of emails over the weekend about the proposal, with most speaking out against the outdoor watering schedule.

“I don’t support mandatory restrictions outside of extreme drought or emergency situations,” Mayor Jeromy Farkas said ahead of Tuesday evening’s vote.

“I believe that the plan that was proposed to council and debated the committee is well intentioned, but it misses the mark in terms of what Calgarians can support at this point.”

The now-approved watering schedule will allow homes and businesses to water their lawns using sprinklers between the hours of 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. on different days depending on their address. Properties with an even numbered address can water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays while properties with an odd numbered address can water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The use of nozzles on hoses and watering cans will still be allowed at any time. Exemptions will also be made for watering newly planted trees, shrubs and grass.

“Water efficiency manages risk by strengthening water infrastructure and service reliability, while managing growth pressures, supporting quality of life, building drought resilience, and protecting the Bow and Elbow Rivers,” reads a report from city administration.

The city says it will take an education-first approach to the watering schedule for at least the first year. After that, fines for outdoor watering contrary to the city’s new water utility bylaw will by $200.