Water shortage response plan created out of precaution: City of Cold Lake

 A lack of snow this winter has left much of the province facing potential water shortages this summer, however, City of Cold Lake council doesn’t want local residents to panic.

“We are coming up with a ‘just in case’ plan for water shortages,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “We are not putting restrictions on water usage, but if residents want to start voluntarily cutting back, there are several ways in which they can do so.”

A recent letter from the Minister of Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has asked all municipalities to develop a water shortage plan to respond to the current shortages across much the province, and steps to take if the demand for water continues to outweigh the available source.

“There is no historical evidence of a water shortage in Cold Lake based on lake levels,” said General Manager of Infrastructure Services Azam Khan. “The City’s response will mostly be driven by reservoir levels, which could be something like a pump house malfunction or a pipeline breaking and causing a large leak.”

City staff have drafted the Water Demand Policy, which answers the Minister’s call for preparedness, while also giving local residents options if they want to voluntarily conserve their water usage. This policy details the triggers, methods, and actions to curtail water demand, should a water shortage event happen.

If residents are interested in voluntarily reducing their water usage, here are some suggestions of changes to make inside and outside their homes:

• Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full and save up to 4,500 L or 1,000 gallons per month.
• Keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge rather than running the tap until the water gets cold.
• Shorten your showers by a minute or two and save 680 L or 150 gallons per month.
• Avoid letting the faucet run while shaving, brushing teeth, washing vegetables, and save up to 113 L or 25 gallons per month.
• While waiting for hot water, use a container to catch tap water for use on indoor and outdoor plants.
• Clean sidewalks with a broom instead of a garden hose.
• Always shut off hose nozzle when using the hose. Be sure there are no leaks in any hose fittings.
• Cover pools and hot tubs when not in use to minimize evaporative losses.
• Water lawns and gardens in the morning or late evening to reduce water loss from evaporation. Thirty per cent or more of your water is lost to evaporation when watering in the heat of the day.

“Although we’re not likely to face the same kind of drought situations that the lower part of the province may see, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared,” said Copeland.

The City of Cold Lake purchased approximately 1.75 billion litres of treated water from the Cold Lake Regional Utility Services Commission in 2023, which was then distributed through the City’s distribution system.

The Water Demand Policy will return to a future council meeting for final approval.