Water Conservation

Easy ways to conserve water in your house:

• Fix leaks: Leaks can waste a lot of water over time. Check for leaks in your faucets, toilets, pipes, hoses, outdoor taps  and sprinklers regularly and fix them as soon as possible.
• Upgrade to efficient fixtures: Replace old fixtures with low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets. 
• Turn off the tap: Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your hands. 
• Run full loads: Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full. 
• Use a broom instead of a hose: Use a broom to clean your garage floor, driveway, sidewalk, or patio instead of water. 

Easy ways to reduce water waste in your yard:

• Collect rainwater: Collect rainwater in a barrel or bucket and use it to water your plants or garden.
• Plant drought resistant plants: Native plants adapted to dry climates will require less water.
• Add mulch to your gardens: Mulch helps conserve and extend available water and protects the soil from erosion.
• Water in the morning or evening: Watering your plants and gardens in the morning or evening when, the temperature is cooler, helps reduce water evaporation.
  • refer to outdoor watering restrictions below.
• Use smart irrigation techniques: Install drip systems that deliver water directly to plant roots, reducing evaporation.

Water conservation is an important practice that can help reduce water usage and save money on utility bills. 

Water wise tips for any business:

• Review water usage and implement water saving opportunities
• Check for and repair plumbing system for leaks
• Upgrade to efficient fixtures
• Work with staff to educate using smart water use

Reducing your water use demonstrates leadership and reduces energy and maintenance costs.

While the water conservation effort is in effect, the Town of Strathmore may ration potable water usage in the following ways:

• Reduce use of the outdoor splash park, indoor pool, hot tub and kiddy pool
• Minimize watering of green spaces, parks and sports fields
• Dry sweep roads where possible
• Suspend washing of town vehicles unless necessary for safety reasons
• Cancel or delay outdoor water programs
• Reuse water where possible, and using storm water for training
• Critical UDF (unidirectional flushing) of key areas

Our departments will continue to monitor usage and adjust when necessary. 

Council was presented with a Drought Plan update on May 1, 2024. View the presentation here (starting at 43:34).

For the complete listing of Special Outdoor Watering Restrictions and information for ICI properties view the Water Utility Bylaw, under Environmental Bylaws. 

View the Environment and Protected Areas' Water Shortage Management Stages at epa-water-shortage-management-stages-factsheet (alberta.ca).

Xeriscaping is often also referred to as zero-scaping, or no-scaping, which are clever euphemisms describing the relative lack of watering needed and maintenance involved with a xeriscaped property.

Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping or gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation. A lawn requires a huge amount of water, fertilizer, and attention to keep it lush and green.  With the possibility of draught-like conditions this year there are great alternatives to having a lawn.  You might want to consider removing a portion or all of your grass and replacing it with Xeriscaping.  There are a variety of plants and shrubs that do not require much water and can be a great substitute for grass especially if the yard only acts as a focal point.

Xeriscaping is an excellent solution that combines water-efficient landscaping techniques with artistic design.  By replacing traditional grass with drought-resistant plants, gravel, and decorative rocks, you can achieve a striking and eco-friendly landscape.  Xeriscaping not only conserves water but also reduces the need for frequent mowing and irrigation, leading to long-term cost savings.

Is Xeriscaping right for you?

Xeriscaping is great for those who want to save water and who don’t mind giving up a bit of green space. Those who still want a grassy expanse for their pets and children to play should maybe consider a 50/50 approach, with a front lawn xeriscaped and a back lawn traditionally landscaped. 

And don’t forget that it is a bit of a fallacy to expect that xeriscaping will completely rid yourself of all landscape maintenance responsibilities.  Shrubs and trees both require regular pruning to keep them healthy, and there is weeding and pruning involved with perennials as well.

Another tip to reduce your water bill is to take full advantage of Mother Nature by placing a rain barrel under your downspout, which can then be hooked up to a hose.

Common Elements of Xeriscaping

Very simply put, xeriscaping refers to a landscape that is made for less maintenance and that requires less water than traditional designs.

The following are some common elements of xeriscaping:

• Planning and Design: Assessing the space you have to work with and considering how it will be used.
• Soil Improvement: Improving the condition of your soil is one of the most important aspects of xeriscaping.
• Reducing Grass: Reducing the amount of grass in your landscape can help you save water.
• Including Native Plants: Including native plants in your landscape can help you save water and money.
• Using Water Wisely: Using water wisely is an important part of xeriscaping.
• Adding Mulch: Adding mulch to your landscape can help you save water and money.
• Maintaining Your Yard: Maintaining your yard is an important part of xeriscaping.

Drought tolerant planting ideas:

• Drought-tolerant shrubs: junipers, dogwoods, caraganas, hydrangeas, honeysuckles, potentilla, spirea, saskatoons, nanking cherries, and cotoneasters. 
• Drought-tolerant trees:  some options for trees that require less water than most includes spruce and pine, ash, hawthorn, lilac, and larch.
• Drought-resistant perennials:  In Strathmore, these include asters, anemones, clematis, some decorative grasses, geraniums, daylilies, goldenrod, potentilla, stonecrop, cornflower, hens and chicks, and blanketflower. 

There are several options for decorative rocks for xeriscaping in Strathmore.  The most popular ones include:

• Lava Rock: This rock is a popular choice for xeriscaping because it is lightweight, porous, and provides excellent drainage. It is also available in a variety of colors, including black, red, and brown.
• Rundle Rock: This rock is a type of limestone that is quarried in Canmore, Alberta. It is a popular choice for xeriscaping because it is durable, low-maintenance, and comes in a variety of sizes and colors. 
• Rainbow Rock: This rock is a type of quartzite that is available in a variety of colors, including pink, green, and blue. It is a popular choice for xeriscaping because it is durable, low-maintenance, and provides excellent drainage. 
• Pea Gravel: This rock is a popular choice for xeriscaping because it is inexpensive, easy to install, and provides excellent drainage. It is also available in a variety of colors, including white, gray, and brown.

Big and beautiful boulders are also common for xeriscaping, as they add great visual appeal. They can be placed to add interest and dimension and help fill in spaces between plants. Boulders can also be useful for placing address numbers and to hold lights and other decorative elements.

Droughts are prolonged periods of dry weather that deplete water resources, including:

• natural sources (rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater)
• constructed storage (reservoirs and dugouts)
• irrigation canals
• soil moisture

• degradation or death of vegetation, fish and wildlife
• economic losses in agriculture and associated industries
• water restrictions, shut down of some licensed water diversions where water demands exceed water supply
• increased forest fire risk

Strathmore's water is purchased from the City of Calgary and transported via the East Calgary Regional Water Line (ECRWL).

Visit Water Supply and Distribution - Town of Strathmore for more information

Prior to 2010 (the commissioning of the ECRWL), outdoor watering restrictions occurred annually.

2023 saw the first outdoor watering restrictions being enforced in 13 years.