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# Water Restrictions
Water Works By-law 24-092 is designed to regulate and control the usage of water within Almonte Ward during the hot summer months.
Each year between May 1 and September 30, there are limitations on who can water and at what time.
**Odd numbered houses** (351 Hope St, 27 Ann St, etc.) may water on **odd calendar days** and **even numbered houses** (246 Monk St, 1536 Spring St, etc.) may water on **even calendar days**.
For the houses permitted to water, watering may occur during the early morning (5 a.m. to 9 a.m.) and evening (7 p.m. to 11 p.m.) each day and from only one connection. Watering is restricted during the midday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) as water is more likely to be wasted through evaporation when watering during the hottest time of the day. Watering from more than one connection uses too much water at once.
A significant amount of new grass or sod is exempted from these provisions for one week. Any other violations of the by-law may result in a fine.
Dos and Don'ts During a Water Ban
At certain times, the Municipality may impose a water ban, restricting water use further. This may include situations where a leak is suspected and staff need residents to limit water use to help in the detection of the leak, or when water reserves are dangerously low.
During a water ban:
* Filling pools, watering lawns and flower gardens is prohibited.
* Irrigation systems and water sprinklers are not permitted for any use at any time.
* Vegetable and fruit plants may be watered throughout the ban--please use only collected rainwater to water.
* Consider using grey water (water retained from dish washing and showering) to water your flower gardens and baskets.
* The Gemmill Park splash pad may stay in operation. Please note this splash pad operates by sensor and only runs when children are using it.
Source Water Protection Fact Sheet
Download Source Water Protection Fact Sheet as PDF
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## Mississippi Mills Source Water Protection Statement
* The Watering Restrictions By-law 04-14 is designed to regulate and control the usage of water. Between May 1 and September 30, odd number houses may water on odd calendar days and even numbered houses on even days. Watering may occur between the hours of 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Water quality and quantity are closely linked; as the amount of water decreases the quality will also be reduced because there is less water to dilute contaminants. Communities can protect drinking water by reducing water consumption.
Less than 3% of the water that is treated for municipal use is actually consumed as drinking water. So where are we using the remaining 97%?
* 75% of indoor home water use occurs in our bathrooms.
* Standard toilets use 40% more water per flush than needed to do the job.
* A 5 minute shower with a standard showerhead uses100 litres of water but a low-flow showerhead uses 35 litres of water.
* A traditional washing machine uses 130 to 250 litres of water to clean one large load.
* Lawn and garden watering increases demand for water by 50%. Watering thoroughly once a week in early morning or evening is more effective than watering daily.
* One lawn sprinkler spraying 19 litres per minute uses 50% more water than 10 toilet flushes, two five-minute showers, two dishwasher loads, and a full load of laundry combined.
* If every household in America had a faucet that dripped once each second, 928 million gallons of water would leak away.
## Drought Information
Fresh water is a natural resource critical to the economic and environmental well being of all residents of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills. In the past, periods of dry weather and low water levels were relatively uncommon, happening every decade or so. But, with changing weather patterns, low water levels occur more often, especially with the increasing demand for water.
Low water affects:
* Municipal sources.
* Private wells.
* Lakes, rivers, ponds and all the residents on those waters.
* Agriculture--irrigation, watering livestock.
* Fire fighting.
* Business and industrial uses.
* Recreation (boating, fishing, swimming).
* Personal use -- drinking, washing, laundry, and so on.
## How to Conserve Water
By being proactive...
* In your home:
+ Install a low-flush toilet or install a toilet dam in your toilet tank to reduce water use.
+ Keep showers to five minutes or less.
+ Consider buying a water efficient showerhead.
+ Rinse clothes in cold water; they come out as clean as those rinsed in warm water.
+ Wash clothes and dished only when you have a full load.
+ Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or the microwave, not under running water.
+ For cold water to drink, keep a jug in the fridge instead of running the tap.
* With your vehicle:
+ Do not wash your car when a municipal water shortage warning is in effect.
+ Use Commercial car washes that recycle their water.
+ Ensure the hole is properly turned off after use to avoid unnecessary leakage.
+ Only wash your car in compliance with the Municipal Water Restriction By Law.
+ Only wash your car when it is necessary to do so.
+ Use a trigger hose to avoid unnecessary waste.
+ Do not wash your car near a storm sewer for drainage.
* In your yard:
+ Avoid watering on windy days.
+ Water your lawn and plants in the morning or evening--evaporation occurs at a slower rate than in the hot sun.
+ Cut grass less frequently.
+ Cut grass longer to reduce evaporation.
+ Compost your food leftovers and leaves--add compost to lawns and gardens.
+ Leave grass clippings on the lawn; they help retain moisture.
+ Collect and use rainwater for your lawn and gardens.
+ Fix any leaking hose and dripping nozzle.
+ Plant more trees around your house to reduce energy needs.
## For Further Information
**Conservation Ontario**
1-905-895-0716
**Lanark County**
1-888-9-LANARK (52-6275)
**Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA)**
613-253-0006 ext. 233
**Municipality of Mississippi Mills**
613-256-2064
**Ministry of Environment and Climate Change**
613-938-2117
Water Conservation Tips
Download Water Conservation Tips sheet as PDF
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* Rain barrels collect the rainwater from your gutters. The water can be reused to water your gardens and landscapes.
* When washing your hands, keep the tap turned off while lathering. Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth or shaving, whether in the shower or at the sink.
* If you are washing dishes by hand, fill one sink for wash water and the other for rinse water.
* Weed your lawn/garden on a regular basis. Weeds like to compete with other plants for nutrients, light, and water.
* While waiting for your water to turn hot, you can collect this running water to use for watering plants.
* Instead of running the tap every time, pour water in a bowl and use for washing fruits/vegetables.
* Choose a shower over a bath! The average tub will use about 35-50 gallons of water.
* A 10-minute shower with a low-flow shower head will use about 25 gallons of water.
* If you notice an increase in your water bill, there could potentially be a leak in your plumbing.
* Install low-flow shower heads! Flow rates are 5 gallons per minute for conventional shower heads, whereas low-flow shower heads will flow at 2.5 gallons per minute, or less.
* Check your taps! On average, a drippy tap that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.
Contact Us
**MUNICIPAL OFFICE**
3131 Old Perth Rd
Box 400
Almonte ON, K0A 1A0
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 613-256-2064
**HOURS OF OPERATION**
Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except on Statutory Holidays
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