EPCOR asks for help to reduce water use over weekend

Edmonton, Alberta - EPCOR's water reservoirs are at 23 per cent of capacity. As a result, EPCOR is implementing Demand Management Measures to reduce the demand for water.

Water demand is exceeding the supply forecast due to heavy spring run off, which makes the water treatment process much slower than normal. To help reduce demand, industrial and municipal customers are already putting water conservation plans into effect.

Residential customers in the greater Edmonton Capital Region are now being asked to help by reducing their non-essential water use as much as possible. This will help the water treatment plants catch up with demand.

The situation is urgent so EPCOR is asking for your help to eliminate
non-essential water use where practical. Until Monday, please do NOT:

Water your lawn, garden, trees or shrubs
Spring clean with water from a hose or tap (washing driveway or house)
Wash your car or take it to a car wash
Clean laundry
Fill your jacuzzi, hot tub or swimming pool

Also, please practice Water-Wise skills – for example, take short showers instead of baths and turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving. Every drop helps.

We recognize that this will be an inconvenience for many customers and we regret any disruption this may cause. These are very unusual circumstances and we are appealing to everyone to play their part, wherever feasible.

Customers should not be concerned about the quality of the drinking water. This is a short-term demand problem only.

Businesses that use water to deliver a product or service, such as greenhouses or food manufacturers, will be exempt from the measures. Other exemptions include any businesses that must use water to meet health code standards, such as restaurants and hospitals. If you have questions about essential uses of water, phone 310-4300.

EPCOR will reassess the water demand situation on Monday, April 29 to determine if Demand Management Measures need to continue or can be lifted.

For more information, please contact:
Rob Burnett
Senior Communications Advisor
EPCOR
Phone: (780) 412-8885

Water Demand Management Measures Backgrounder

Is my tap water safe to drink?

YES. This is a demand problem only. There is no effect on the drinking water quality.

What communities are included in these Demand Management Measures?

EPCOR's two water treatment plants serve all of the following communities in the Capital Region:

Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Leduc, Fort Saskatchewan, Alexander First Nation, Andrew, Antler Lake, Ardrossan, Beaumont, Bruderheim, Calmar, Chipman, Collingwood Cove, Egremont, Gibbons, Hilliard, Josephburg, Lamont, Legal, Morinville, Mundare, Namao, Nisku, Parkland, Redwater, Riviere Qui Barre, Ryley, Sturgeon County, Thorhild, Tofield, and Vegreville.

Residents in all of these communities can help by reducing their water use.

What can I do to reduce my water useage?

There are many things people can do to reduce their water use.

Every time you go to turn on the tap, ask yourself whether it is absolutely essential for you to use that water in the next few days. If it isn't, don't turn on the tap.

The following are some of the water uses that can probably be put off for a few days:

Watering the lawn or garden
Washing off the house, deck or driveway
Washing the car
Cleaning windows
Filling hot tubs, swimming pools, outdoor ponds, etc
Washing laundry
Washing dishes

Changing water use patterns will also help. Some water saving ideas include:

Taking a shower instead of a bath – having a short shower uses much less water
Putting a pitcher of water in the fridge instead of running tap water until it gets cold
Turning off the tap water while you brush your teeth
Only flushing when necessary – people with cottages and trailers know this can save water

For more water conservation tips, go to EPCOR's website at www.epcor.ca .

How will this affect me immediately?

EPCOR knows that reducing water use is an inconvenience and we regret any disruption to our customer's normal routine. Other than this inconvenience, customers should not be concerned about their drinking water. This is a short-term demand problem only and, once the river water becomes clearer, EPCOR's two water treatment plants will be able to meet full production levels.

How severe is the shortage?

EPCOR's water reservoirs are getting quite low and, because of heavy spring runoff, the water treatment plants are having trouble keeping up with the demand for water. Reservoirs need to be kept above a minimum level for emergency purposes like firefighting. That is why we are asking for our customer's help to reduce the demand.

Are the reservoirs below the minimum level now?

NO. We are asking for our customer's help now so that reservoirs can be kept above that minimum level.

Has this happened before?

YES. Occasionally, after heavy rains or during spring runoff, the water in the North Saskatchewan River becomes quite dirty and takes longer to treat. If demand for water during these times doesn't go down as well, EPCOR must ask customers to help out.

How will EPCOR address this problem?

Before going to its residential customers, EPCOR already asked industrial and municipal customers to delay optional water use for things like street cleaning and plant watering. Even with the support of these customers, reservoir levels continued to decline.

EPCOR is addressing this issue by refurbishing its filters at both Water Treatment Plants.

How long will this last?

EPCOR anticipates that production levels will increase in the next couple of days as the river water becomes clearer. Because of that, we are only asking for residential customers to cut back water use for a few days.

What will happen to my plants if this continues?

EPCOR only anticipates that this situation will last for a few days.

Why is this happening?

Occasionally, after heavy rains or during spring runoff, the water in the North Saskatchewan River becomes quite dirty and takes longer to treat. If demand for water during these times doesn't go down as well, EPCOR must ask customers to help out.

Is Edmonton's water supply drying up?

NO. EPCOR only uses about four per cent of the water from the North Saskatchewan River to supply all of our customers. The river water is simply dirtier so it takes longer to treat.

Are there fines if people don't comply with these measures?

These are voluntary measures. In the past, our customers have responded when we asked them to help. We hope that will be the case again so that the current water supply shortage can be corrected quickly.



© Waternunc.com 2002