Water Conservation Regulation (WTRCONREG-001)

Brandon, Manitoba · adopted 2019-06-18

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot ceaddffec8fa · verified 2026-06-10 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

WTRCONREG-001- WATER CONSERVATION Authority: Water Conservation By-law No. 7245 Covers: All users of water supplied by the City's waterworks system Effective: June 18, 2019 Purpose: To establish provisions with respect to protecting the supply of potable water available for use during times when the City's capacity to provide water is deemed to be diminished. Author: Alexia Stangherlin, Director of Utilities 1. Definitions (a) Unless otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, words and expressions in this Regulation have the same meaning as the same words and expressions in the Water Conservation By-law. (b) In this Regulation: (1) "Excess Water Use" means to apply or use more water than is required to provide a service, produce a product or complete a task, and without limitation includes the application of water to a hardscape, such as a sidewalk, driveway or parking lot, or to exterior windows or exterior building surfaces, through a hose or power-washer to the point that water runs-off or spreads to surrounding areas. (2) "Fill" means to completely fill or partially fill with water an empty or substantially empty hot tub, swimming pool, fountain, wading pool, or similar structure, but for certainty does not include topping up with or adding water in the normal course of operation, where the hot tub, swimming pool, fountain, wading pool, or similar structure is filled with water and is in operation at the time water use restrictions come into effect. (3) "New Lawn" means a lawn that is newly established either by seeding or the laying of new sod or turf for the first time on a property, where there has been no lawn or turf previously or where replacement was required due to construction purposes. ACS-05-2025 Water Conservation Regulation Page 2 (4) "Non-Essential Use" means the use of water for activities that are deemed to be unnecessary during periods when water use is restricted and are dependent upon the Stage of water restriction activated. (5) "Nursery" means a commercial business in which flowers, plants, trees or shrubs are grown or displayed for sale. (6) "Odd Numbered Address" or "Even Numbered Address" means the numerical portion of the street address of a property, and in the case of multi-unit commercial or residential complex such as but not limited to a townhouse, condominium or other strata- titled property, means the numerical portion of the street address that is assigned to the entire complex, and not the individual unit number. (7) "Over-Water" means to apply water in a manner that soaks the lawn, boulevard or landscaped area being watered to the point of saturation and results in water pooling, spreading or running- off to other areas. (8) "Plant" means the Water Treatment Facility operated by the City. 2. Stages (a) Stage 0 occurs when the river level at the Plant intake is above the elevation of the top of the top intake screen, and the Plant has been assessed for its ability to continue normal operation. (b) Stage 1 occurs when the river level at the Plant intake is 0.75m below the elevation of the top of the top intake screen, and the Plant has been assessed for its ability to continue normal operation. (c) Stage 2 occurs when the river level at the Plant intake is 0.75m below the elevation of the bottom of the top intake screen, and the Plant has been assessed for its ability to continue normal operation. (d) Stage 3 occurs when the river level at the Plant intake is at the elevation of the top of the bottom intake screens, and the Plant has been assessed for its ability to continue normal operation. Water Conservation Regulation Page 3 3. Water Usage Provisions (a) Stage 0 (1) No restrictions are in place on the usage of water; (b) Stage 1 (1) Excess Water Use and Over-Watering is prohibited; (2) Use of power-washers is prohibited; (3) Filling of pools, hot tubs, and other similar structures is prohibited, subject to stated exceptions; i) Public wading pools and spray parks may continue to operate; ii) Public and private swimming pools, hot tubs, and other similar devices may replace water loss due to evaporation and use. (4) Use of sprinkler systems or hand-held devices for watering of lawns, trees, shrubs, and gardens is limited to between 0400 hours and 0700 hours and between 1900 hours and 2200 hours daily; (5) Hand-held watering devices or containers is permitted for washing of vehicles, boats and other similar craft; (6) Construction activities where the use of water is required for dust control for safety purposes, or for compaction, and where no reasonable alternative exists, are deemed an exception to these provisions. (c) Stage 2 (1) All Stage 1 provisions apply with modifications as set out herein; (2) City's regular program of watermain flushing is prohibited; i) the Technical Advisory Committee may authorize specific lines to be flushed in situations where it deems the process necessary for the safety of the users or the Waterworks; (3) Use of public wading pools and spray parks are prohibited; (4) Use of sprinklers or hand-held devices for watering of lawns and gardens is permitted between 0400 hours and 0700 hours and between 1900 hours and 2200 hours on two days per week; i) properties bearing an Even Numbered Address are limited to watering on Saturday and Tuesday; ii) properties bearing an Odd Numbered Address are limited to watering on Sunday and Wednesday; iii) City owned properties not bearing a civic address are limited to watering on Monday and Thursday. (5) Sprinklers may be used for golf courses and driving ranges but only to the extent where failure to water would result in permanent loss of plant material; Water Conservation Regulation Page 4 (6) Sprinklers or other similar devices may be used by Nurseries; (7) Sprinklers may be used for New Lawn applications on a daily basis: i) for sod, during the first 21 days after installation; ii) for newly seeded lawns, until growth is established or for 49 days after installation, whichever is less; but only during the hours set out in clause 3.(c)(3). (8) The construction exception continues. (d) Stage 3 (1) All Stage 2 provisions apply with modifications as set out herein; (2) Watering of lawns, flower gardens, or flower displays, including through ground water use, is prohibited; (3) Use of the Plant water fill station is prohibited; (4) Use of hand-held devices for watering of vegetable gardens is permitted subject to the hours specified in clause 3.(c)(3) and only on Monday; (5) All exceptions granted under Stages 1 and 2 are revoked other than the exception granted for construction purposes. 4. Temporary Revisions (a) In consultation with the Technical Advisory Committee, the Director of Utilities reserves the right to temporarily modify, in writing, any of the restrictions or permissions established during any Stage when it is deemed expedient and prudent to make such modification. This includes lessening or removing restrictions for a specific reason and imposing greater restrictions as necessary. (1) Modifications which are considered to be a long-term change will be incorporated into the Regulation; (2) Modifications which are considered to be unique and not long- term will be applied through this authority as required; (b) The Director of Utilities will ensure those users impacted by such modification will be notified directly of the change. 5. State of Local Emergency (a) Upon a State of Local Emergency being declared in relation to Water Conservation the following provisions apply: (1) all Non-Essential Use of water is restricted; (2) all exceptions for Non-Essential Use of water are revoked; (3) all commercial establishments which use water in their regular activities must discontinue said use; (4) use of water is reserved strictly for hydration of humans and animals, sanitary use, food preparation, and fire suppression; Water Conservation Regulation Page 5 (5) water rationing may be implemented; and (6) any other restrictions deemed necessary by the Emergency Coordinator and/or City Council. 6. Communication Except where it is required that notification to the public is deemed to be immediate, 24 hours notice will be provided for the implementation of any Stage indicated herein. 7. Enforcement In accordance with the authorities established by the Water Conservation By-law, any person who contravenes, or does not comply, or improperly complies, or only partly complies, with any provision of this Regulation commits an offence and is subject to penalty. Related Information: Water Conservation By-law 7245 The Municipal Act, C.C.S.M., c.M225 Compliance By-law 7198 Conflict: Where there is a conflict or inconsistency between this Regulation and provisions contained within a statute or regulation of the Government of Canada or the Province of Manitoba, the Federal or Provincial statute or regulation shall supercede those impacted provisions of this Regulation.