Water Restrictions

In this stage, Rocky View County shall continue to monitor drought conditions, weather patterns, and remain aware of any potential condition or event that may result in a water shortage. The County will notify residents of water shortage restrictions, and implement subsequent Level(s) of Water Shortage (Stages) as necessary based on potential or actual risk and impact.

In this stage, residential potable customers will be required to follow an outdoor water use schedule, based on address number. Automatic irrigation system timers must run between midnight and 6 a.m. on your designated days. Manual sprinklers must be operated between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight on your designated days. Discretionary (outdoor) water use days under Level 1 restrictions are as follows:

• Even numbered properties: Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
• Odd numbered properties: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Outdoor hand watering may occur outside set hours on your watering days.

Watering new grass, shrubs and trees are exempt from this outdoor water use schedule. County water management efforts will focus on communicating conservation messages to residents through our website, social media channels, road signs and advertising. The County will monitor drought conditions to determine if further action is required.

In this stage, scheduled outdoor water use will be restricted to one day a week. As in Level 1, automatic irrigation system timers must run between midnight and 6 a.m. and manual sprinklers must be operated between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 7 p.m. to midnight. Discretionary (outdoor) water use days under Level 2 restrictions are as follows:

• Even numbered properties: Wednesdays.
• Odd numbered properties: Thursdays.

Outdoor hand watering may occur outside set hours on your watering day or on the weekend. Bylaw Officers will issue warnings to customers found to be using water outside of allowed hours or for prohibited activities.

County water management efforts will focus on communicating conservation messages to residents through our website, social media channels, road signs and advertising. The County will monitor drought conditions to determine if further action is required

A response in this stage will consist of a full outdoor water ban for all residential customers. All users will be requested to limit discretionary use of water. Public notification messages will be updated and issued using several forms of conventional media to ensure messaging is delivered to all residents. The County will advise commercial customers to reduce daily consumption and will escalate Bylaw enforcement on customers using water for discretionary purposes.

The following criteria and scenarios will trigger a Water Shortage Event:  

• Provincial advisory
• Regional partner implementation
• Bow River water flow level as modelled by the Alberta Government
• Elbow River water flow level as modelled by the Alberta Government
• Minimum fire protection storage
• Western Irrigation District (WID) conveyance restrictions 

It is important to understand water plan levels advance, the County can implement fines through the Municipal Government Act/RSA 2000 cW-3 and in accordance with the Water & Wastewater Utilities Bylaw/C7662-2017. 

There are a number of communities in the County that receive water from different companies. Residents are asked to follow the direction from their specific water provider.