Calgary heading into 6 weeks of water restrictions

Calgary residents are facing six weeks of water restrictions, and will be banned from sprinkling the lawn, hosing down sidewalks, and filling up backyard pools and hot tubs.

The city announced the Oct. 10 restrictions on Tuesday, saying work to upgrade water treatment plants in Bearspaw and Glenmore will reduce the amount of water available.

"We need to take some of the demand out of the system and we feel water restrictions would be the best way to do that," said Paul Fesko, the city's water resources manager.

Calgary residents will not be allowed to:

• Water lawns, gardens, trees or shrubs with a sprinkler or irrigation system.
• Water with an outdoor hose,including one with a spring-loaded nozzle with automatic shut-off.
• Wash down outdoor surfaces such as exterior building surfaces, sidewalks, driveways or walkways.
• Use water for filling outdoor decorative features, fountains, swimming pools, wading pools or hot tubs.

Watering yards and gardens with a hand-held container is allowed, along with watering new sod within 21 days of planting and new seed within 45 days of planting.

The restrictions will likely last six weeks.

Larry Yurkowski, who manages a company that sells hot tubs, says he's not worried that a temporary restriction will hurt business.

"If they fill it up before the water restrictions kick in, they've got months before they have to change their water," he said.

Child-care facilities, restaurants, barsand animal-care facilities are allowed to wash outdoor surfaces for health reasons.

Businesses can also wash vehicles to follow health and safety regulations, operate licensed car washes and window-washing services, water livestock, and water plants, shrubs or trees that arefor sale.

Water used in construction, such as grading, compaction and dust control, is also allowed.

Edmonton residents were asked to use less water over four days this month due to work on that city's treatment plant.