Water restrictions in place; rain being welcomed

ELORA - A hot, dry July has prompted a report about water conditions at Centre Wellington’s committee of the whole. On Aug. 8 Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj presented it.

It showed the Shand dam, up to July 25, had received 30mm of rain, with the average being 81.7mm. That’s 37 per cent of the normal rainfall.

Conestogo Lake and reservoir did not fare any better. It had 22mm, compared to an average of 82.9mm - 27%.

The report was from water resources engineer Stephanie Shifflett and director of engineering Dwight Boyd, of the Grand River Conservation Authority.

They stated “A prolonged wet period is needed to bring soil moisture back to normal conditions.”

They noted stream flows are declining, but, “the wet spring in the area caused high groundwater levels and that helped to keep groundwater discharges and stream flows near normal in many tributaries of the Grand River.”

Public Works Director Ken Elder noted the township is enforcing its water restrictions. People on municipal water are permitted to water new sod or plants on even days if they have an even house number, and on odd days with an odd number. He added, “Anybody who planted shrubs in the last month, I have no sympathy for them.”

Elder said irrigation systems face the same rules.