water sprinkler

It’s summer and it’s time to be “water wise”.

That message from the city considering the recent hot, humid and dry conditions.

They say usage usually doubles in the summer and that puts a strain on municipal water resources.

But, they also say it leads to increased costs for water users.

Chair of Engineering and Works Councillor Tanya Vrebosch points out this will be the first summer residents will be billed based on water consumption as measured by the new water meters.

“We’re not telling people to stop using water,” said Vrebosch. “We are encouraging them to do their part to make a difference and implement water conservation methods that will not only protect a valued resource, but also their pockets.”

The City is encouraging residents to try and conserve water during the dry summer months when rainfall is at its lowest and usage is at its highest.

There are a number of ways to do this including reducing outdoor watering, installing rain barrels, using a broom to clean debris from the driveway instead of a hose, and covering the pool when not in use to reduce evaporation.

To offer support to residents, the City has created an online portal where homeowners can sign-up to view their personal water consumption and receive paperless water bills. The portal can be accessed by logging on to the City’s website at www.cityofnorthbay.ca and clicking on “eServices Portal”.

Residents are encouraged to share their water wise behaviour this summer on social media using the hashtag #everydropcounts.