More communities in Ottawa asked to reduce water use amid low rivers’ levels

Another conservation authority is asking Ottawa west residents to voluntarily reduce their water consumption amid decreasing river levels and persisting high temperatures.

The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) is declaring a Level 2 low water condition within the Carp River Watershed, which encompasses the communities of West Carleton-March, Stittsville, Kanata North, Rideau-Jock and Kanata South.

Officials are asking those with permits to take water from this area to reduce their consumption by 20 per cent. Typically, permits are for organizations like golf courses or construction.

Homeowners not on city water are being encouraged to protect their well systems by reducing consumption as well.

This sort of condition is issued by the conservation authority when rainfall is less than 60 per cent of historical averages and/or stream flows are less than 50 per cent of normal flows for this time of year.

In the last month, a portion of the Carp River in Kinburn had a peak flow of 0.27 cubic metres of water per second, well behind the typical average of 1.55 m³/s. On Aug. 11, the flow was as low as 0.01 m³/s.

“The City’s central drinking water system is not impacted by the current low water conditions,” the memo from MVCA reads. “The water purification plants draw water from the Ottawa River, and daily water demand is less than 1 per cent of the daily flow.”

Those within the Mississippi River watershed, including areas like Almonte, Pakenham and West Carleton-March, are asked to reduce consumption by 10 per cent.

The vast majority of residents (93 per cent) in the city are connected to the municipal drinking water and are not impacted by declarations. However, there are also six community wells the city runs and even though there has never been issues with the capacity, the authority notes, people are asked to reduce consumption if possible.

This includes the communities of Carp, Munster, Richmond, Greely and Vars.

The other organizations monitoring water within the nation’s capital, South Nation Conservation Authority and Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, have declared Level 1 (minor) low water conditions.

Fire ban amid hot temperatures

A burn ban is in effect for the nation’s capital as hot, dry weather persists. A heat warning issued last week continues to persist in a wide swath of Ontario, including Ottawa. 

Agriculture Canada says some parts of eastern Ontario got as little as 40 per cent of the usual rainfall in July. 

The National Capital Commission has banned open-air fires in Gatineau Park and Leamy Lake Park. 

With files from The Canadian Press’ Sarah Ritchie.