Water restrictions in effect

By Rob Vogt
With the Pine Coulee reservoir dipping below a certain level, the Town of Claresholm and Municipal District of Willow Creek have enacted water restrictions to protect the water supply in the reservoir.
At its June 28 meeting, the M.D. council reviewed a public notice sent out to ratepayers stating Stage 1 water restrictions are in place.
A water shortage has occurred within the Pine Coulee Reservoir, which supplies water to the Claresholm Regional Water Treatment Plant.
Claresholm and the M.D. of Willow Creek are required to initiate a response plan to reduce consumption and protect the available water supply.
This requirement is part of the water licence which is monitored by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas.
This water restriction affects the Town of Claresholm, Hamlet of Granum and the Willow Creek West Waterworks System, that is the Claresholm Industrial Airport and Pipeline Water Co-op.
There are different restrictions for different user groups. Those user groups are residential, commercial and public institutional.

M.D. enacts water shortage response plan

The Municipal District of Willow Creek has enacted its water shortage response plan.
The decision came at the June 28 meeting of the M.D. council after they reviewed a report from administration outlining the situation.
The report stated that as part of the conversion of the temporary water licence to a permanent licence for the Claresholm Industrial area a joint water shortage response plan was adopted in August of 2020 between the M.D. and the Town of Claresholm. This was done as a required by Alberta Environment to received the water licence.
This plan addresses water use in the Town of Claresholm, Hamlet of Granum, The Pipeline Water Co-op and the Claresholm Industrial Area.
The plan includes triggering criteria related to water levels in Pine Coulee and an incremental implementation of increasingly stricter water-use restrictions.
The M.D. of Willow Creek and the Town of Claresholm have agreed to jointly implement the response plan and to issue common media and social media releases.
The triggering criteria has been met for “Stage 1” rationing.
The M.D. of Willow Creek utility bylaw states that “The chief administrative officer may, at such times and for such lengths of time as is considered necessary or advisable, implement water conservation and demand management measures to restrict water usage in any or all parts of the M.D.”
Information for residents who are within the areas outlined above will be included on the water restrictions in the June utility bills.
The M.D. has no role in administering agricultural water usage. This water restriction is only applicable to municipal potable water sources.
Council then adopted the water shortage response plan.