The South Saskatchewan River, seen at the CPKC Bridge in downtown Medicine Hat, is currently at normal levels for this time of year, according to Alberta Environment.--News Photo Collin Gallant
@MedicineHatNews
Medicine Hat reduced water use by 18 billion litres this summer amid calls to conserve in the face of drought and water supply concerns, city utility officials said Thursday.
That equates to a 17 per cent reduction from May 1 to Sept. 31 after the city signed a water sharing agreement with others in the basin aiming to reduce water for outdoor and other uses by 10 per cent.
“We’re really extending our thanks to our residents and other users,” Jamie Garland, the city’s director of environmental utilities, told a council committee meeting Thursday.
He said that over the summer, the city’s potable water system delivered 1.8 million cubic metres of water, each representing a volume of 1,000 litres, less than in same period in 2023.
In May the city reduced its own water usage in irrigating parks, at the power plant and at major city pool during repairs at the Big Marble Go Centre. Residents were asked to do the same on a voluntary basis.
Eventually, drought and water supply fears did not fully develop, however.
Garland said the current level of the Oldman Reservoir is 61 per cent full, whereas 62 to 79 per cent is typical at this time of year. The level in the fall of 2023 was 15 per cent.
That and the potential for another dry winter and spring led the provincial government to seek out voluntary reductions in Alberta’s major river basins.
Garland said city officials will also take part in a debriefing exercise with provincial officials, other municipalities and large water licence holders in November.
