10% Water Conservation Urged throughout Otonabee Region Watershed

©DeborahCarew

©DeborahCarew

Despite a brief rainfall on Sunday evening, water users throughout the Otonabee Region watershed continue to be urged to reduce their consumption by 10 per cent because of the unusually dry conditions experienced this year.

Analysis of the data, including temperature, precipitation, and stream flow for the first 5 months of 2016, indicate that every month, except March, experienced below normal precipitation receipts. The low water conditions have resulted in reduced water flows in most area streams and creeks, most notably during April and May. According to Gordon Earle, Water Resource Technician, during the month of June, the region received only 40% of normal levels of precipitation.

The low water conditions have prompted the Otonabee Region Water Response Team to declare a Level 1 Low Water Condition. Residents can take an important first step to conserving water by limiting lawn watering and other outdoor water uses in accordance with municipal by-laws.

The Otonabee Region Water Response Team is made up of representatives from local municipalities, water management agencies, water users, several community, provincial and federal agencies and Otonabee Conservation. Watershed conditions are analyzed on a monthly basis and a determination is made based on the available data.

Otonabee Conservation will be monitoring watershed conditions over the next few weeks and expect this Level 1 Low Water Condition urging water conservation of 10%, will remain in effect. During the summer months of June, July and August, water loss naturally occurring through evaporation and transpiration processes typically exceed water received through precipitation. Unless the area receives an unusual amount of precipitation over the next few weeks, Earle expects the Conservation Authority will be forced to press for more stringent water conservation efforts at their next meeting schedules for July 11th.

For further information contact Dan Marinigh Chief Administrative Officer 705/745-5791 ext. 222 or Gordon Earle, Water Resource Technician at ext. 214. KG

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