Media Release

FOR RELEASE September 10, 2007

Water Response Team declares level II condition

Continuing dry weather has prompted the local Water Response Team to upgrade the current Level I Low Water Condition to a Level II.

Kawartha Conservation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Natural Resources, administers the Ontario Low Water Response program in its watershed. As part of the program, they invited representatives of local water users and water-related agencies to form a Water Response Team (WRT) whose mandate is share information regarding water conservation with their sector constituents and the general public.

There are three levels to the program, with Level I declared when precipitation levels drop to 80% of historical averages. Level I is primarily a warning level and the action is educating the public about water conservation with the goal of a 10% reduction for non-essential uses. Level II indicates a potentially serious problem, and water conservation reduction targets for non-essential use increases to 20%. Level III indicates a failure of the water supply to meet demand.

Dave Pridham, chair of the WRT feels water conservation targets can be achieved if residents make a conscious effort to change their day-to-day behaviours. “It may take some effort in the beginning, but there are many easy ways to reduce our demands on water around the house, and together they add up to significant savings,” says Pridham.

Here are some easy ways to reduce your water use at home by 20%:

• During a hot, dry spell, don't wash your car, or at least do so less frequently.
• Practice water-efficient lawn care. If you must water your lawn, reduce evaporation loss by watering very early in the morning. Please, contact your municipality to determine if there is a water use restriction in effect.
• Use a rain gauge to tell you when your lawn has received enough water, approximately an inch (2.5 cm) a week, depending on your soil type.
• Plant native flower gardens. They are well suited to the climate and require little or no watering.
• Fix leaking fixtures. A tap leaking can waste over 10,000 litres per year!
• Reduce your shower time – five minutes is plenty of time to get clean.
• Keep a jug of cold water in the fridge. This way you avoid running the tap until the water cools.
• Using a dishwasher can be more efficient than washing dishes by hand, as long as you wait until you have a full load.
• Wash vegetables in a basin or partly filled sink – not under running water.
• When hand washing dishes in a two sink basin, fill one with soapy water and the other with rinse water. It saves running the tap for each dish. 

Kawartha Conservation is a watershed-based environmental organization focused on providing abundant clean water within a healthy landscape. It is one of 36 conservation authorities in Ontario providing natural resources management. The Kawartha Watershed intersects portions of the City of Kawartha Lakes; Township of Scugog; Township of Brock; Municipality of Clarington; Township of Galway-Cavendish & Harvey; and Township of Cavan-Monaghan.

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For more information please contact:

Lezlie Goodwin 705 328.2271 ext 233, lgoodwin@kawarthaconservation.com

Iryna Shulyarenko, hydrologist 705-328-2271 ext 219, ishulyarenko@kawarthaconservation.com