Alex Butler
Abbotsford News
Despite a few drops of precipitation over the last week, Abbotsford and Mission remain under restrictions that prohibit lawn sprinkling. But not everyone has been following the rules, and the communities are trying to make sure residents do their part to save water.
The lawn sprinkling ban was implemented on July 3 in Abbotsford and Mission.
Since then, Mission has handed out about 200 notices, with 45 written warnings issued and one $100 fine.
Abbotsford has given out 262 door-hanging notices indicating a first offense for those breaking the restrictions. The city also issued 12 warning letters for second offenses and has yet to issue a fine.
The communities have also hired summer students to help find people who are still using their sprinklers.
While the lawn watering restrictions have lowered water use, the lack of snow pack and precipitation this year have brought communities’ water sources to such low levels that more restrictions could be possible this summer.
At a meeting of the Joint Shared Services Commission, which includes councillors from Abbotsford and Mission, staff said that in a worst-case scenario, Stage 4 water restrictions could be implemented in mid-August.
If the community hit Stage 4, all forms of lawn watering will be prohibited, as well as a ban on the use of city water for flower gardens, pools, fountains, washing cars or boats, and more.
For commercial operations, such as car washes and golf courses, and city properties, such as sports fields, the use of treated water would be at the discretion of the city engineer.
