Town council gives final approval to outdoor watering schedule

By Rob Vogt

Claresholm town council has adopted a year-round, outdoor watering schedule.
At its Sept. 8 meeting, Council approved the final two readings of a bylaw with an outdoor watering schedule.
Key features of the schedule include:
• The watering schedule has been incorporated directly into the town’s water shortage response plan, which now reads The Town of Claresholm watering schedule and water shortage response plan.
• A new schedule for residential and commercial manual and automatic sprinkling when water levels in Pine Coulee reservoir are at “normal” levels, that is from 1,052.5 metres to 1,046 metres.
• A new schedule for public institutional irrigation when water levels in Pine Coulee reservoir are at “normal” levels.
• It limits watering to three continuous hours in each morning or evening for manual, automatic and irrigating.
The schedule allows for watering three days a week from 12 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Residents with odd-numbered addresses can water lawn, garden and plants Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
Residents with even-numbered addresses can water lawn, garden and plants Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Residents can water lawn, garden and plants with micro or drip irrigation, handheld sprinkling, hose or water can any day with 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. the recommended times.
The decision came after a discussion by administration and council.
Chief Administrative Officer Abe Tinney asked if council wanted an education period before enforcement.
Coun. Kandice Meister said she was still opposed to the outdoor watering schedule. She is not opposed to watering restrictions but enforcing the watering schedule will pit neighbour versus neighbour.
She also said the bylaw officer will have more important things to do than enforce this. People will also ask why council adopted this when it’s not enforced.
Coun. Rod Kettles was also opposed. He said the town charges for water, so people are responsible for using it, and they choose what’s best. He added the watering schedule seems overly complex.
Coun. Kieth Carlson also agreed, noting the watering schedule is a great idea, but the same goal can be achieved with education.
Coun. Craig Zimmer was for the watering schedule. He did not see it as a restriction but instead preventive maintenance.
The town has a limited amount of water, and the watering schedule is another tool for water conservation. He added education is also needed.
When it came time to vote on second reading of the bylaw Mayor Brad Schlossberger and Couns. Mike Cutler, Diana Ross, and Craig Zimmer voted in favour, with Carlson, Kettles and Meister opposed.
On third reading, Schlossberger, Carlson, Cutler, Ross and Zimmer voted in favour, while Kettles and Meister were opposed.
First reading had passed back at council’s Aug. 11 meeting.