Airdrie residents will need to pay more attention to their water usage this year – a new Waterworks Bylaw adopted by Airdrie City council at a regular meeting Feb. 4 introduces a number of new water conservation strategies to the community. The City’s previous Waterworks Bylaw already included specific measures to address water conservation, according to Glenn Archer, team lead with Water Services – policies around low-flow plumbing fixtures and wasting of potable water. However, the new document includes additional strategies such as a year-round conservation schedule outlining which days of the week residents, businesses and municipal operations are permitted to irrigate with potable water (including increased restrictions in water-shortage circumstances); provisions for irrigation systems; and watering exceptions through an online permitting process. “I know lots of our neighbours have been doing this for a number of years, and it’s worked very successfully – not only saving water, but reducing people’s utility bills at the end of the month,” Mayor Peter Brown said. “It’s a great practice.” According to Archer, the document was drafted in keeping with the recommendations supported through council’s adoption of the Water Conservation Bylaw and the Water Conservation, Efficiency and Productivity Plan in July 2018. At that time, he said, amendments were suggested for the Waterworks Bylaw, but administration determined, due to the significant number of changes required, adopting a new bylaw would be more efficient. Coun. Candice Kolson raised concerns regarding the amount of public engagement conducted with regards to the bylaw’s proposed changes – specifically, that residents hadn’t had the opportunity to provide feedback on water-use limitations. “I’m prepared for the general public to not want to be told on what days they can water their lawns,” she said, adding she “would have liked to have seen more community involvement before we just say, ‘This is what we’re doing.’” According to Corporate Communications Team Lead Jill Iverson, public consultation is an important step in situations where there are multiple options requiring resident input – but not all circumstances offer alternative solutions. “You do public consultation when there is a choice,” she said, “and a decision to be made that people can influence. This is something that I believe council and administration all agreed is the best move forward – this is what we need to do for our city. It wasn’t a decision to be made.” Instead, administration has proposed a phased approach to introduce the policies to the community. While the implementation of this new bylaw is slated to begin immediately, Archer said the focus for 2019 will be on public education and information sharing – similar to the water conservation campaign operated by the City throughout the summer of 2018. The comprehensive communication plan would provide information to residents and businesses regarding the new standards included in the bylaw, he said, as well as information on reducing water waste and additional sustainability opportunities. In subsequent years, Archer added, warnings and fines may be implemented – however, Deputy Mayor Tina Petrow said she was unsure how effectively the municipality would be able to enforce the new restrictions. “You drive around the city and there’s inevitably tons of people washing their cars on a sunny day and not following the bylaws to begin with,” she said. “I like [the bylaw], and I think that water conservation is so, so important to this region, but I feel leery on the enforcement part of this.” According to Brown, since the City is a complaint-driven service, enforcement of the bylaw will depend on neighbours calling in to let the municipality know if residents are choosing not to respect the conservation policies. “In talking to other mayors that have a similar bylaw in place, it works – much like the green bins,” he said. Third reading was carried 5-1, with Kolson voting in opposition. Coun. Darrell Belyk was not present. To see the watering schedule and read more about the bylaw, visit the City of Airdrie's website at airdrie.ca and search for "water conservation."
