Rocky View County needs to be more proactive when it comes to addressing the local water emergency that is afflicting the entire metro Calgary region.
Instead of following other jurisdictions in the area, and bringing in some kind of reasonable local watering restrictions, the County has done the municipal equivalent of the ostrich sticking its head in the sand.
As of press time last Friday, the County was still not considering taking any additional measures to conserve water in its jurisdiction.
“Rocky View County’s Utility Services is currently monitoring the water shortage situation in southern Alberta, and at this time has not declared a water emergency,” it said in a statement released to local media when asked if they would.
The County went on to state it would eventually act–- if Alberta Environment tells them too.
“Alberta Environment and Protected Areas’ Water Shortage Response has not been activated for our service areas, but we are watching the situation closely,” the statement continued. “The County encourages all residents to be water wise at all times. We will respond accordingly if the situation changes locally and/or provincially.”
Both the City of Airdrie and the City of Chestermere, who receive their water supplies from Calgary, agreed to follow Calgary’s lead and brought in their own voluntary restrictions to mirror their neighbour and support its conservation efforts. The fact that Rocky View did not, when many of its own residents take water from the same Bow River headwaters, is a bit of a head scratcher, and perhaps a might unneighbourly and inconsiderate of other jurisdictions south of Calgary who are suffering one the worst droughts in recent years.
But one thing the County did hit spot-on in their statement released to local media last week is when they said it, “encourages all residents to be water wise at all times.”
Even without municipal restrictions in place, we would strongly encourage all Rocky View residents to make efforts to reduce their water consumption to help with the current situation.
