ALDERGROVE ST TAR
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| Thursday, July 9, 2015
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Hot, dry conditions call for water conservation Aldergrove Star
JENNIFER SIMON PHOTO
Youngsters and the young at heart cooled off in the dunk tank at last week’s Canada Day party. Aldergrove Legion hosted a free family-oriented Canada Day party that featured entertainment, sports day events such as sack races, a bouncy castle and a big free Canada Day cake. Legion volunteers also served up food from their grill and all were able to cool off in the dunk tank.
Fire department inundated with calls By MONIQUE TAMMMINGA Aldergrove Star
The Township fire department has been slammed with calls for service, with 722 calls coming in since June 1. “We’ve been extremely busy,” said Township assistant fire chief Pat Walker. Since June 1, firefighters have gone out to nine house fires and put out 93 bush and grass fires. A number of those fires were caused by discarded cigarettes.
When the smoke from B.C. forest fires was at its thickest, the fire hall phone lit up with calls, with many thinking Langley was on fire, he said. Firefighters have also been going out to many medical calls for people with breathing issues. Wildfires are burning throughout the province, but so far Langley firefighters haven’t been called to help, as they did during the 2003 Kelowna fires, said Walker.
Record high temperatures and extremely dry weather conditions mean Township of Langley residents, along with residents in other communities across the region, are being asked to conserve water. Stage 2 watering restrictions were enacted by the Greater Vancouver Water District on July 3, so that diminishing water supplies can be maintained for drinking and emergency use. The restrictions apply in all areas of the Township that use the municipal water system, whether that comes from Metro Vancouver water reservoirs, groundwater, or a mix. Private well owners are also encouraged to cut back on their water usage. “We had lower than normal amounts of snowfall and precipitation this fall and winter, meaning there was less water available in reserve, and summer arrived in full force early this year,” said Township environmental coordinator Meaghan Norton Daniel. “The high water demand that comes with extremely hot conditions means that Metro Vancouver’s reserves are being depleted much sooner, and at a faster rate than normal,” she said, noting that Langley Township’s water system is also being strained. The hope is that, by declaring Stage 2 restrictions and cutting back now, the water system will be better able to recover from peak demands, and the amount of water extracted from GVWD and Township groundwater supply sources will be reduced.
“It is hoped that by taking action and conserving now, we can avoid further restrictions,” Norton Daniel said. Under Stage 2 restrictions, lawn sprinkling will be allowed only one morning a week. For residences, that means even-numbered homes can water lawns on Mondays from 4 to 9 a.m., with odd-numbered addresses allowed to sprinkle on Thursdays, from 4 to 9 a.m. Businesses and other nonresidential uses with even addresses can water their lawns on Wednesdays from 1 to 6 a.m. only, and odd-numbered addresses can sprinkle Tuesdays from 1 to 6 a.m. Washing driveways and sidewalks and the use of pressure washers has been banned for aesthetic purposes; they can only be done for health and safety reasons. Fountains and water features are to be shut down and water play parks can only operate with child-activated buttons. The watering of school yards, sports fields, park lawns, cemeteries, boulevards, and golf course fairways are now cut to minimal levels to keep them in usable condition. In most cases, that is once a week. Under the current Stage 2 restrictions, flowers, veg-
etable gardens, and decorative planters, trees, and shrubs can still be watered. Pools, spas and ponds can be refilled, and cars and boats can be washed outside using a hose equipped with a spring-loaded shut off. Commercial car washes are still operating and new lawn permits are still being issued. The restrictions will remain in effect until September 30, and all areas of the Township will be subject to the next stages of restrictions if deemed necessary by Metro Vancouver or the Township’s General Manager of Engineering. “Your lawn only requires one hour or one inch of watering a week to stay healthy,” said Norton Daniel. “Alternatively, residents may choose to ‘go golden’ and let their lawn go dormant for the summer.” Water usage doubles during the warm season. In Aldergrove, Gloucester, and Salmon River Uplands, which currently rely solely on groundwater drawn from local aquifers, the Township is urging restraint, urging properties with private wells to observe the water restrictions. For more information, visit tol.ca/waterrestrictions.
Although lawn watering is permitted the hours during which residents may do so are limited.
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