The Town of Wembley, located about 23 kilometers west of Grand Prairie, has implemented what they refer to as a level 3 water restriction, where all outdoor water use is prohibited, due to a low water supply.

Officials say the warm, dry conditions this spring have increased water usage and water sources are not keeping up to demand. With current reservoir levels lower than what the Town feels is safe, they are urging residents to follow restrictions while levels recover.

Residents are being asked to not wash cars, sidewalks, pads or exteriors of buildings, or water lawns. Flowerbeds and vegetable gardens may be watered by hand, at any time, using a watering can or hose with a nozzle, trigger shut off, to restrict water flow.

The Town of Wembley continues to develop a long-term water solution.

Meanwhile, the Town of Stony Plain as well the cities of St. Albert and Leduc are encouraging residents to conserve water where possible.

Officials from the Town of Stony Plain say municipal use of water will be restricted for non-essential uses due to reduced water in reservoirs. As a result, residents are being asked to follow odd/even yard watering until further notice. “If it’s not necessary, then perhaps just refrain from watering your lawn - try to do it in early morning and late evenings. You’re also going to save yourself a bit of money in how much water [is consumed],” says spokesperson Stephanie Barsby Boisvert.

The Town has also suspended the use of potable water for all non-essential activities such as hydrant and water main flushing, but essential activities such street sweeping and tree, shrub, landscape areas and flowerbed watering will continue using what they refer to as a de-watering source. Officials say if the situation escalates, there will be a total ban on water irrigation.

Officials with the City of St. Albert say the higher than normal water use has started to reduce water levels in the City’s three reservoirs and as a result have discontinued non-essential activities such as street sweeping and hydrant flushing. Mayor Nolan Crouse says while the City has not implemented a water restriction, they are urging residents and businesses to conserve water where possible.

The City of Leduc is also passing along water conservation tips to its residents. Officials there are asking residents to follow a voluntary, alternate-day lawn watering program.

EPCOR, who provides water to approximately one-million people in the Metro Edmonton area, says on average water consumption is 350 million litres per day over the year, that’s up to 525 million per day. Spokesperson Tim le Riche says EPCOR has no plans for voluntary water restrictions right now, but every bit of water conservation, such as turning off the taps when brushing teeth, helps. “We deliberately designed our system to enable us to handle periods of long, hot weather where demand for water has increased. Certainly over the last few days, demand for water in Edmonton has increased,” le Riche says.

“Right now, the infrastructure is working well. We have enough water to meet the demand even though it’s really hot and Edmonton is drinking a lot of water…but that doesn’t mean people shouldn’t be thinking of conservation of what’s proven to be a growing asset in terms of its importance to us.”