By Andru McCracken
The Village of Valemount gave first, second and third reading to a bylaw that would allow them to manage the water supply with more finesse depending on the situation.
Existing restrictions allow residents to water grass, trees, shrubs and gardens between 7 am to 10 am and 7pm to 10pm each day between June 1 and September 1 of each year, but a more comprehensive set of water restrictions are in the works, different for different scenarios like when there is increased demand, decreased supply or an emergency.
Village of Valemount Water Supply and Regulations Amendment Bylaw No. 822 proposes four stages of water restrictions.
Stage 1 restrictions are the same as the Village currently enforces from June to September of each year (7-10 morning and night).
Restrictions in stages 2 and 3 are progressively more stringent. Stage 4 is for extreme conditions.
For example, Stage 2 prohibits watering on even or odd numbered days of the month depending on your house number. Odd house numbers would be allowed to water on July 1st, 3rd, 5th and so on. Even numbered houses could only water on July 2nd, 4th, 6th and so on.
Stage 3 restrictions limit lawn watering to 2 days a week. Thursdays and Sundays for odd numbered addresses and Wednesdays and Saturdays for even numbered addresses.
With stage 3 in place, people are prohibited from filling any swimming pool, hot tub, fountain or pond, also bulk water sales may be restricted at the discretion of the CAO or the public works superintendent.
In Stage 4 residents aren’t permitted to use water for ‘any purpose other than drinking, food and beverage preparation, personal hygiene, fire protection and to maintain the health and safety of humans and domestic animals.
All bulk water sales are prohibited, except as deemed necessary for fire protection.’
If you are just starting a new lawn, whether from sod or newly seeded, you can get a permit to get your lawn started.
The permits are not valid during Stage 4 water restrictions.
The water bylaw comes with a new set of fines for violation tickets. $50 for violating stage 1, $100 for violating stage 2 watering restrictions. $200 for stage 3 and $400 for stage 4 violations.
The Village also added watering violations to their Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication system.
