Achi news desk-
Heavy rain in the Calgary region and throughout much of Southern Alberta on Tuesday was welcomed by many.
An official with the City of Calgary said staff are monitoring the forecast to balance the risks of drought and flooding going forward, but added that things “appear to be trending in the right direction.”
“The continued precipitation is very welcome in the region. Overall, there is still a deficit in the basin and so we continue to monitor those conditions,” said Nicole Newton, manager of natural environment and adaptation.
“One of the things we’re looking at is the rate at which the snow is melting. The snowpack is quite important for our long-term water security and projections suggest that it could still be a hot and dry summer. So we’re trying to balance those risks with the future water supply,” he said.
“May and June are our normal months where we have to balance the risk between flooding and drought.”
A water reduction advisory is in place in Calgary, as the city asks residents to reduce their water use and make every drop count. Current drought conditions in Calgary are listed as “dry,” which is on the “voluntary water conservation” side of the scale rather than mandatory water restrictions.
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Despite the rain this week, Newton is still asking Calgarians to conserve water. Things Calgarians can do include watching the weather forecast to decide when to water their gardens and lawns, planting water-tolerant and drought-tolerant plants in their yards, and using a rain barrel .
“It’s important for Calgarians to continue to be prepared,” Newton said.
There is currently a waiting list for a rain barrel in Calgary, but Newton said the city is working to address that demand.
Newton said the city is submitting changes to the water utility bylaw for council review in June that would look at introducing an outdoor water schedule, and help Calgarians transition to outdoor water restrictions if they are needed later in the season.
Much of southeastern Alberta remained under a rainfall warning Tuesday, with anywhere from 50 to 70 millimeters of rain expected before precipitation tapers off Wednesday.
As of 7:25 a.m. Tuesday, Calgary was not under a rainfall warning.
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