My office has been getting calls and emails asking about water restrictions and seeing water being used on parks, or golf courses. So wanted to share this with you all.
*
Where Parks & Opens Spaces has turned water off:
- Irrigation using City water supply, as well as outdoor fountains and water features remains turned off.
Where Parks & Open Spaces has left water on for health & safety reasons:
- Drinking water fountains and washrooms in parks remains on for public health and safety.
Where Parks & Open Spaces is using non-potable water:
- Watering of select sport fields, parks, trees and flowers using non-potable water collected from recent rainfall. As warmer weather is expected, we’re using this water responsibly to ensure we’re protecting areas for Calgarians to enjoy.
- All irrigation for City golf courses uses non-potable water.
- Controlling weeds listed under the Alberta Weed Control Act as well as vegetation control around LRT infrastructure.
- The use of non-potable water has no impact on the City’s water supply.
Where Parks & Open Spaces operations/programs are on pause:
- As the Calgary Fire Department has issued a citywide fire ban, community fire pit bookings have been suspended and current permits cancelled.
- Wading pools and spray parks will remain closed until restrictions are lifted. (You can check real-time status of wading pools and spray parks at Calgary.ca/sprayparks)
- We have postponed the remaining quadrant (S.E., N.W., & S.W.) Branching Out program tree pick up events so that we can keep the trees healthy until restrictions are lifted, and they can be watered at their new homes.
Where Calgarians may see water being used in other parks and greenspaces:
- Communities in Calgary that have an Enhanced Landscape Maintenance agreement with The City are using their own water sources and contracted crews for watering activities and not drawing from the City’s water supply.
- The use of potable water at community gardens is allowed during Stage 4 outdoor water restrictions.
- Community members may see watering happening in new stormwater communities. This stormwater is non-potable (not safe for drinking) and developers in these communities are able to use it for watering parks and playfields. In addition, non-potable water use may also be happening through community groups or partners that have an agreement with the City for irrigation. This water use has no impact on the City’s water supply.
