Water users throughout the Grand River watershed are being asked to cut their consumption by 10 per cent, because of the unusually dry weather this year.
Low rainfall since mid-April has contributed to reduced stream flows on a number of tributaries throughout the watershed, and the Grand River Conservation Authority has increased augmentation levels at its large reservoirs in order to maintain low flow targets on the Grand and Speed Rivers.
The call for the reduction came from the Grand River Low Water Response Team, which met in a conference call on June 29. The team is made up of representatives of major water users including municipalities, farmers, golf course operators, water bottlers, aggregate businesses, Six Nations and others.
The Low Water Response Team decided to place the entire watershed at Level 1 under the Ontario Low Water Response Program.
Level 1 results in a request for a voluntary 10 per cent reduction in water consumption by all water users, including municipalities, aggregate operations, golf courses, water bottlers, farms for irrigation and private users.
Residents should follow their municipal outdoor water use bylaws, which limit watering to specific days and times.
A few localized rain storms in May and June delivered up to 20 mm in some parts of the watershed, but most rain events have been short with very little volume. The GRCA says almost all of its rain gauges are under the Level 1 threshold for three-month precipitation, and there is very little rain in the short or long-term forecast. The dry conditions and diminishing river and stream flows can place stress on the natural environment of the Grand River and its tributaries.
The large reservoirs are within their normal operating range, but high discharges to maintain flow targets, coupled with high evaporation and low inflows means levels are dropping.
