It’s easy to take water for granted. It falls from the sky, flows from the tap on command and can be seen in the abundance of lakes and rivers throughout our province.
But one only has to stroll along the banks of the Sturgeon River or take a drive around the county to see that precious resource can be more fragile than we might think.
Last week, the county issued a non-essential watering ban and raised fines for violating the order to reinforce the seriousness of drought conditions plaguing much of the province.
While dry conditions can’t be blamed for all the county’s water woes. The Allin Ridge Reservoir, which saw its levels dip to 35 per cent, is in desperate need of expansion. It nearly ran out of water in 2011 and the county reported last year its levels are not sufficient to supply all its fire hydrants.
While the expansion of the reservoir has been met with delays, conditions such as the ones the province has been experiencing this year exacerbate the problem. Sturgeon County has become the latest county to declare a local state of emergency as farmers’ crops suffer the devastating affects of dry conditions. Sturgeon was the third county in the province to declare an emergency, with more expected to make similar announcements throughout the week.
Although reducing water consumption for personal use might not have the power to reverse drought conditions, nor would it have been able to prevent it, the current situation makes us acutely aware of how fragile our water system can be. It also reinforces the message that we need to do more to conserve and protect our water resources.
