Conservation authority calls on residents to reduce water consumption

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority news release

The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) is recommending that businesses and residents reduce their water consumption while hot, dry weather conditions continue.

“Low rainfall since mid-April has contributed to drought conditions, which can put stress on municipal water supplies,” said Tom Hogenbirk, Manager of Engineering at LSRCA. “While we did see some rain in parts of the watershed this past weekend, it wasn’t enough to counter the effects of the hot, dry weather over the last couple months. Until we see enough rain to bring us out of the early drought stage, we’re encouraging all water users to conserve, including businesses, aggregate operations, golf courses, water bottlers, farms and residents,” he concluded.

According to the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Low Water Response Program, current conditions in the watershed meet the “first level of low water conditions”. This level is the first indication of a potential water supply problem. The recommended response is to conserve water.

For residents and businesses alike, the easiest and most effective action to take right now is to follow municipal outdoor water use bylaws, which limit watering to specific days and times. For other water conservation information, visit your municipality’s website, or find available resources on the following Ontario Ministry websites: Natural Resources and Forestry, Environment and Climate Change, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.