No restrictions on outdoor watering in Toronto, but Vaughan is a different story
Posted July 20, 2011 3:49 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Toronto Water says the message to conserve is getting across, and as a result there are no restrictions on outdoor watering in the city of Toronto, despite the lack of rain over the past few weeks.
This is not expected to change despite the hot, dry weather.
“The city of Toronto has the ability to supply about 2,200 million litres of water per day, and our peak so far in the last two weeks was this past Sunday [when the temperature reached a record-breaking 35.2 degrees], and we only reached 1,724 million litres per day,” Jim Harnum, the director of water treatment and supply told 680News.
“Our message is always use water wisely, so even though we have the ability to supply that water, we definitely wouldn’t want people to go out and start wasting the water just because we have that ability to supply it,” Harnum said.
In Vaughan, however, parts of the city are under a watering ban, after the region issued a temporary water use ban for the Kleinburg and Nashville areas effective immediately.
Officials said it was a necessary step to ensure there is water available for the fire department in case of an emergency.
Properties on private well systems are exempt, and it is also permitted to water gardens and flower pots with a watering can or using rain barrel water.
In Peel Region, there are no restrictions, but people are asked to observe “Waterwise Wednesdays,” suggesting people law off watering to help replenish the reservoirs, and consumption will continue to be monitored throughout the week.
In Halton Region, officials have put the water situation at level one, which is “careful use.” Residents are on an odd/even day lawn watering schedule.
