Last weeks heat wave resulted in record breaking water consumption in Okotoks.

The water demand was triple what is typically the Town's normal usage, which Dawn Smith, sustainability coordinator, says isn't due to a water license capacity issue but rather the Town's 12 wells couldn't produce water fast enough to meet demand.

Smith says residents are doing great abiding with the watering schedule but it's the amount that's used during those times that's causing concern.

"It's an issue of people and their expectations of what their grass should look like, and we're also going to be asking our citizens to reduce non-essential use," she explains. "If possible no vehicle washing, vinyl siding washing, driveway washing, even during your watering window just to help those peak demands."

The Town is letting residents break the rules a little on scheduled watering days and allowing them to program their automatic sprinkler systems to go on for 30 minutes- 1 hour maximum around 2- 3 a.m. to help reduce demands during peak times.

The spray park is a different situation in regards to water consumption as it uses recycled water. According to Smith, the spray park saw 300 kids on one day last weekend which she says is better than 300 kids using sprinklers at home.

Residents are also being asked to try to be more conscious of indoor water consumption when it comes to using items like dish washers and washing machines.

For information on the Town's watering schedule click here.

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