Nobleford implements voluntary water conservation

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Nerissa McNaughton
For the News

Drought. That is a common word spoken with trepidation around the world and here in Southern Alberta, the threat is real and growing. According to the Government of Alberta, the province is in stage 4 (out of 5) in its water shortage management response plan in recognition of the ongoing levels of snowpack, precipitation, river levels and other key markers. 

In light of the current conditions, residents and businesses in Nobleford are asked to conserve water.

Currently, the Town has a healthy water supply, but it will take proactive measures now to ensure this supply remains healthy in the future. 

Mayor Joan Boeder notes, “The Town of Nobleford is currently following a request from the provincial government to voluntarily conserve water by 5-10 per cent. At this time, we have no concerns about our raw water supply, as our raw water reservoirs are currently at very healthy levels in part due to a rehabilitation and expansion project that we undertook in 2023. However, should the drought persist, it is important that we all play our part in conserving water. The Town is planning to scale back on watering parks and will continue to use the recycled water from our water treatment plant to water our trees along our walking path.”

The Town of Nobleford maintains a sustainable water supply through its efficient storage system, drawing water from three raw water reservoirs. Recently, two of these reservoirs underwent significant repairs, with an expansion added to one, enhancing the Town’s storage capacity. Despite this improvement, Nobleford’s water supply is not infinite. After the reservoirs are depleted, they must be refilled with water from the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID) canal, which is only available for a limited period each year to ensure adequate preparation for the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Using less water means less will be needed to refill the reservoirs, leaving more water in the canal for other users and ensuring broader access to the resource.

Mayor Boeder adds, “We are thankful for the amount of precipitation we have received [recently], and we hope that this will help relieve the concern surrounding the shortage of water that Alberta is currently experiencing. We do appreciate the voluntary participation of our residents to work together to reduce water usage. The Province of Alberta has been working on water sharing agreements with the larger municipalities in Alberta and it would be helpful if we all do a small part to make sure there is enough water supply for everyone.”

 She recommends that everyone stays aware of the drought situation in our province, and to stay informed with the current guidelines and/or restrictions that may need to be implemented if the drought continues.

Nobleford residents can receive updates, advice, and advisories regarding this on the Town’s Facebook page.